
Qass h '^4-7 
Book .G 6 n JL 



PREFACE 



TN presenting our History of Coles County, we deem a few prefatory wo 
necessary. We have spared neither pains nor expense to fulfill our engagement w 
our patrons and make the work as complete as possible. We have acted upon 
principle that justice to those who have subscribed, be they few or many, requires t 
the work should be as well done as if it was patronized by every citizen in the cout 
We do not claim that our work is entirely free from errors ; such a result could not 
attained by the utmost care and foresight of ordinary mortals. The County History i 
compiled by our historians, W. H. Perrin, A. A. Graham and D. M. Blair, and recei 
much material and assistance from Judge William E. Adams. Some of the To' 
ship Histories are indeed longer than others, as the townships are older, contain 
larger cities and towns, and have been the scenes of more important and interest 
events. While fully recognizing this important diflFerence, the historians have soughl 
write up each township with equal fidelity to the facts and information within ti 
reach. We take this occasion to present our thanks to all our numerous subscril: 
for their patronage and encouragement in the publication of the work. In this eonfid 
belief, we submit it to the enlightened judgment of those for whose benefit it has bi 
prepared, believing that it will bf received as a most valuable and complete work. 

THE PUBLISHERS 






OBIOAQO: 

CTULVRR. PAOB, UOYNK * CO., PUIIVTItBil. 
lit ftnd IX UoorM 1Stfr\ 



CONTENTS. 



HISTORICAI.. 



Page. 

History Northwest Territory 19 

Geographicnl 19 

Early Exploration 20 

Discovery of the Ohio 33 

Eoglisb Explorations and Settle- 
ments 35 

American Settlements 60 

Division of the Northwest Tarri- 

tory C6 

Tecumseh and the war of 1812 70 

Black Hawk and the Black Hawk 
War 74 



Page. 

Other Indian Troubles 79 

Present Condition of the Northwest 87 

Illinois 99 

Indiana .lOl 

Iowa 102 

Michigan 103 

Wisconsin 104 

Minnesota 106 

Nebraska 107 

History of Illinois 109 

Coal .125 

Compact of 1787 117 



Paoe. 

History of Chicago 132 

Early Discoveries 109 

Early Settlements 115 

Education 129 

First French Occupation 112 

Genius of La Salle 113 

Material Resources 124 

Massacre ol Fort Dearborn 141 

Physical Features 121 

Progress of Development. .«.. ..123 

Religion and Morale 128 

War Record of Illinois 130 



Page. 

Rcnrcr of the Mississippi 21 

Mouth of the Mississippi 21 

Wild Prairie 23 

La Salle Landing on the Shore of 

Green Bay 25 

Bnfifalo Hunt 27 

Trapping 29 

Hunting 32 

Iroquois Chief. :^ 

Pontiac, the Ottawa Chieftain 43 

Indians Attacking Frontiei-smen... 56 

A Prairie Storm 59 

A Pioneer Dwelling 61 

Breakiug Prairie &i 



Page. 

Tecumseh, the Shawnee Cliieftain... 69 

Indians Attacking a Stockade 72 

Black Hawk, the Sac Chieftain 75 

Big Eagle 80 

Captain Jack, the Modoc Chieftain.. S3 

Kinzie House 85 

Village Residence 86 

A Representative Pioneer 87 

Lincoln Monument, Springfield, 111. 88 

A Pioneer School House 89 

Farm View in the Winter 90 

High Bridge and Lake Bluff 94 

Great Iron Bridge of Chicago, Rock 
Island & Pacific Railroad, Cross- 



Paoe. 

ing the River at Davenport, Iowa 96 ■ 

A Western Dwelling 109 

Hunting Prairie Wolves at an 

Early Day 108 

Starved Rock, on the Illinois River, 

La Salle County. HI 110- 

An Early Settlement 116' 

Cliicago in 1833 133 

Old Fort Dearbron in 1830 136 

Present site of Lake Street Bridge, 

Chicago, in 1833 136 

Pioneers' First Winter 142 

View ot the City of Chicago 144 

Shabbona 149 



Page. 
General History of Colee County ....:i23 

Afihmure Township 391 

Charleston " 289 

Eaet Oakland Towuship 443 

Button Township 430 



10Ijfr:S COIIKTY HISTORY. 

Page. 

Humboit Township 4fi9 

La Fayette '* 478 

Mattoon " 324 

Morgan " .456 



Page. 

North Okaw Township 489 

Pleasant Grovo " 407 

Paradise '* 496 

Seven Hickory " 463 



lilTUOGRAFHK^ PORTRAITS. 



Page. 

Adams, W. E 239 

Adams. J.J 221 

Cunningham, J. T 257 



Page. I Paor. 

Cash, L. S 293 Pemberton. J. J Ill 

Gordon, John 275 Kutherford, H a29 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



Page. 

Ashmore Township 592 

Charleston " 511 

East Oakland " 558 

Button " C07 



Paok. 

Humholt Township 033 

La Fayette " 689 

Mattoon " 539 

Morgjin '* 620 



Page. 

North Okaw Township 646 

Pleasant Grove " 682 

Paradise " 649 

Seven Hickorj- " 639 



OIRECTORY OK TAX-PAYERIS. 



Ashmore Township- 
Charleston *' 
East Oakland " 



Pagt.. 

, 669 

657 

, 777 



Page. 

Humboit Township 684 

La Fayette " 689 

Miittocin " 663 



675 Morgan 



Page . 

North Okaw Township 687 

Pleasant Grove '* 673 

Paradise ** 691 



C80 Seven Hickory 



..G82 



IV 



CONTENTS. 



ABSTRACT OF H^I^INOIH STATE I.AWN. 



Paqe. 

Adoption of Children IGO 

Bills of Kxcbange and Promissory 

Notes 151 

County Courts 155 

Conveyances 164 

Church Organizations 18a 

Descent 151 

Deeds and Mortgages 157 

Drainage 103 

Damages from Trespass 1G9 

Definition of Commercial Terms 173 

Exemptions from Forced Sale 156 

Estrays 157 

Fences 16S 

Forms: 

Articles of Agreement 175 

Bills of Purchase 174 

Bills of Sale 176 

Bonds 176 



Page. 
Forms : 

Chattel Mortgages 177 

Codicil 1S9 

Lease of Farm and Build- 
ings 179 

Lease of House 180 

Landlord's Agreement 180 

Notes 174 

Notice Tenant to Quit 181 

Orders 174 

Quit Claim Deed 185 

Receipt 174 

Real Instate Mortgaged to Secure 

Payment of Money 181 

Release ISG 

Tenant's Agreement 180 

Tenant's Notice to Quit 181 

Warranty Deed 182 

Will 187 



Paok. 

Game.; „ 158 

Interest 156 

Jurisdiction of Courta 151 

Limitation of Action 154 

Landlord and Tenant 165 

Liens „i79 

Married Women 153 

Millers „ 159 

I^Iark^ and Brands 159 

Paupers 164 

Roads and Bridges 161 

Surveyors and Surveys IGO 

Sufrgestions to Persona Purchasing 

Books by Subscription 190 

T:ixes 154 

Wills and Estates 152 

Weights and Measures 158 

Wolf Scalpa 164 



Page. 

Map of Coles County Front 

Constitution of the U. S 102 

Electors of President and Vico Pres- 
ident 20G 

Practical Rules for Kvery Day U8Q.207 
U. S. Government Land Measure. ..210 
Agricultural Productions of Illi- 
nois by Counties, 1870 210 

Surveyors* Measure 211 

How to Keep Accounts 211 



NISCELLANEOVS. 

Page. 

Interest Table 212 

Miscellaneous Tiiblcs 212 

Names of the States of the Union 

and their Signification 213 

Population of the United States 214 

Population of Fifty Principal Cities 

of the United States 214 

Population and Area of the United 

StJiteg 215 

Population of the Principal Coun- 
tries in the World 215 



Paok. 

Population of Illinois 216-21T 

State Laws Relating to Interest 218 

State Laws Relating to Limitations 

of Actions 219 

Productions of Agriculture of Illi- 
nois 220 

Population of Coles Co G99 

Business Directory 693 

Errata 656 




I 



mK5 or (g 0; ILM m'- 



ILLINOIS 




COUNTr 



-"T — ' — T — i I I' I ■ 

' i •■- ■'•' -"'/ I « I t ^ 

1 | i I - 




The Northwest Territory. 



GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION. 

When the Northwestern Territory was ceded to the United States 
by Virginia in 1784, it embraced only the territory lying between the 
Ohio and the Mississippi Rivers, and north to the northern limits of the 
United States. It coincided with the area now embraced in the States 
of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and that portion of 
Minnesota lying on the east side of the Mississippi River. The United 
States itself at that period extended no farther west than the Mississippi 
River ; but by the purchase of Louisiana in 1803, the western boundary 
of the United States was extended to the Rocky Mountains and the 
Northern Pacific Ocean. The new territory thus added to the National 
domain, and subsequently opened to settlement, has been called the 
" New Northwest," in contradistinction from the old " Northwestern 
Territory. " 

In comparison with the old Northwest this is a territory of vast 
magnitude. It includes an area of 1,887,850 square miles ; being greater 
in extent than the united areas of all the Middle and Southern States, 
including Texas. Out of this magnificent territory have been erected 
eleven sovereign States and eight Territories, with an aggregate popula- 
tion, at the present time, of 13,000,000 inhabitants, or nearly one third of 
the entire population of the United States. 

Its lakes are fresh-water seas, and the larger rivers of the continent 
flow for a thousand miles through its rich alluvial valleys and far- 
stretching prairies, more acres of which ai's arable and productive of the 
highest percentage of the cereals than of any other area of like extent 
on the globe. 

For the last twenty years the increase of population in the North- 
west has been about as three to one in any other portion of the United 
States. 

(19) 



20 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



EARLY EXPLORATIONS. 

In the year 1541, DeSoto first saw the Great West in tlie New 
Woi'ld. He, however, penetrated no farther nortli than the 35th parallel 
of latitude. The expedition resulted in his death and that of more than 
half his army, the remainder of whom found their way to Cuba, thence 
to Spain, in a famished and demoralized condition. DeSoto founded no 
settlements, produced no results, and left no traces, unless it were that 
he awakened the hostility of the red man against the white man, and 
disheartened such as might desire to follow up the career of discovery 
for better purposes. The French nation were eager and ready to seize 
upon any news from this extensive domain, and were the first to profit by 
DeSoto's defeat. Yet it was more than a century before any adventurer 
took advantage of these discoveries. 

In 1616, four years before the pilgrims " moored their bark on the 
wild New England shore," Le Caron, a French Franciscan, had pene- 
trated through the Iroquois and Wyandots (Hurons) to the streams which 
run into Lake Huron ; and in 1634, two Jesuit missionaries founded the 
first mission- among the lake tribes. It was just one hundred years from 
the discovery of the Mississipi^i by DeSoto (1541) until the Canadian 
envoys met the savage nations of the Northwest at the Falls of St. Mary, 
below the outlet of Lake Superior. This visit led to no permanent 
result; yet it was not until 1659 that any of the adventurous fur traders 
attempted to spend a Winter in the frozen wilds about the great lakes, 
nor was it until 1660 that a station was established upon their borders by 
Mesnard, who perished in the woods a few months after. In 1665, Claude 
Allouez built the earliest lasting habitation of the white man among the 
Indians of the Northwest. In 1668, Claude Dablon and James Marquette 
founded the mission of Sault Ste. Marie at the Falls of St. Mary, and two 
years afterward, Nicholas Perrot, as agent for M. Talon, Governor Gen- 
eral of Canada, explored Lake Illinois (Michigan) as far south as the 
present City of Chicago, and invited the Indian nations to meet him at a 
grand council at Sault Ste. Marie the following Spring, where they were 
taken under the protection of the king, and formal possession was taken 
of the Northwest. This same year Marquette established a mission at 
Point St. Ignatius, where was founded the old town of Michillimackinac. 

During M. Talon's explorations and Marquette's residence at St. 
Ignatius, they learned of a great river away to the west, and fancied 
— as all others did then — that upon its fertile banks whole tribes of God's 
children resided, to whom the sound of the Gospel had never come. 
Filled with a wish to go and preach to them, and in compliance with a 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



21 



\ 







s 



K 
H 

O 




s 



o 

o 



22 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

request of M. Talon, who earnestly desired to extend the domain of his 
king, and to ascertain whether the river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico 
or the Pacific Ocean, Marquette with Joliet, as commander of the expe- 
dition, prepared for the undertaking. 

On the 13th of May, 1673, the explorers, accompanied by five assist- 
ant French Canadians, set out from Mackinaw on their daring voyage of 
discovery. The Indians, who gathered to witness their departure, were 
astonished at the boldness of the undertaking, and endeavored to dissuade 
them from tlieir purpose by representing the tribes on the Mississippi as 
exceedingly savage and cruel, and the river itself as full of all sorts of 
frightful monsters ready to swallow them and their canoes together. But, 
nothing daunted by these terrific descriptions, Marquette told them he 
was willing not only to encounter all the perils of the unknown region 
they were about to explore, but to lay down his life in a cause in which 
the salvation of souls was involved ; and having prayed together they 
separated. Coasting along the northern shore of Lake Michigan, the 
adventurers entered Green Bay, and passed thence up the Fox River and 
Lake Winnebago to a village of the Miamis and Kickapoos. Here Mar- 
quette was delighted to find a beautiful cross planted in the middle of the 
town ornamented with white skins, red girdles and bows and arrows, 
which these good people had offered to the Great Manitou, or God, to 
thank him for the pity he had bestowed on them during the Winter in 
giving them an abundant " chase." This was the farthest outpost to 
which Dablon and Allouez had extended their missionary labors thf^ 
year previous. Here Marquette drank mineral waters and was instructed 
in the secret of a root which cures the bite of the venomous rattlesnake. 
He assembled the chiefs and old men of the village, and, pointing to 
Joliet, said : " My friend is an envoy of Fi-ance, to discover new coun- 
tries, and I am an ambassador from God to enlighten thcni witli tlie truths 
of the Gospel." Two Miami guides were here furnislu'd to conduct 
them to the Wisconsin River, and they set out from tlie Lulian village on 
the 10th of June, amidst a great crowd of natives who had assembled to 
witness their departure into a region where no white man had ever yet 
ventured. The guides, having conducted them across the portage, 
returned. The explorers launched their canoes upon the Wisconsin, 
which they descended to the Mississippi and proceeded down its unknown 
waters. What emotions must have swelled their breasts as they st"""k 
out into the broadening current and became conscious that tliey wl 
now upon tlie liosom of th3 Father of Waters. The mystery was abou'" 
to be lifted from tlie long-sought river. The scenery in that locality is 
beautiful, and on that delightful seventeenth of June must have l)een 
clad in all its primeval loveliness as it had been adorned by the hand of 



THE NORTHWEST TEERITOEY. 



23 



Nature. Drifting rapidly, it is said that the bold bluffs on either hand 
" reminded them of the castled shores of their own beautiful rivers of 
France." By-and-by, as they drifted along, great herds of buffalo appeared 
on tlie banks. On going to the heads of the valley they could see a 
country of the greatest beauty and fertility, apparently destitute of inhab- 
itants yet presenting the appearance of extensive manors, under the fas- 
tidious cultivation of lordly proprietors. 




THE WILD PRAIRIE. 



On June 25, they went ashore and found some fresh traces of men upon 
the sand, and a path which led to the prairie. The men remained in the 
boat, and Marquette and Joliet followed the path till they discovered a 
village on the banks of a river, and two other villages on a hill, within a 
half league of the first, inhabited by Indians. They were received most 
hospitably by these natives, who had never before seen a white person. 
After remaining a few days they re-embarked and descended the river to 
about latitude 33°, where they found a village of the Arkansas, and being 
satisfied that the river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico, turned their course 



24 THE NORTHWEST TERftlTORY. 

up the river, and ascending' the stream to the mouth of the Illinois, 
rowed up that stream to its source, and procured guides from that point 
to the lakes. " Nowhere on this journey," says Marquette, •' did we see 
such grounds, meadows, woods, stags, buffaloes, deer, wildcats, bustards, 
swans, ducks, parroquets, and even beavers, as on the Illinois River." 
The party, without loss or injury, reached Green Bay in September, and 
reported their discovery — one of the most important of the age, but of 
which no record was preserved save Marquette's, Joliet losing his by 
the upsetting of his canoe on his way to Quebec. Afterward Marquette 
returned to the Illinois Indians by their request, and ministered to them 
until 1675. On the 18th of May, in that year, as he was jjassing the 
mouth of a stream — going with his boatmen up Lake Michigan — he asked 
to land at its mouth and celebrate Mass. Leaving his men with the canoe, 
he retired a short distance and began his devotions. As much time 
passed and he did not return, his men went in search of him, and found 
him upon his knees, dead. He had peacefull}'^ passed away while at 
prayer. He was buried at this spot. Charlevoix, who visited the place 
fifty years after, found the waters had retreated from the grave, leaving 
the beloved missionary to repose in peace. The river has since been 
called Marquette. 

While Marquette and his companions were pursuing their labors in 
the West, two men, differing widely from him and each other, were pre- 
paring to follow in his footsteps and perfect the discoveries so well begun 
by him. These were Robert de La Salle and Louis Hennepin. 

After La Salle's return from the discovery of the Ohio River (see 
the narrative elsewhere), he established himself again among the French 
trading posts in Canada. Here he mused long upon the pet project of 
those ages — a short way to China and the East, and was busily planning an 
expedition up the great lakes, and so across the continent to the Pacific, 
when Marquette returned from the Jlississippi. At once the vigorous mind 
of LaSalle received from his and his companions' stories the idea that by fol- 
lowing the Great River northward, or by turning up some of the numerous 
western tributaries, the object could easily be gained. He applied to 
Frontenac, Governor General cf Canada, and laid before him the plan, 
dim but gigantic. Frontenac entered warmly into his plans, and saw that 
LaSalle's idea to cor:nect the great lakes by a chain of forts with the Gulf 
of Mexico would hind me country so wonderfully together, give un- 
measured power to France, and glory to himself, under whose adminis- 
tration he earnestly hoped all would be realized. 

LaSalle now repaired to France, laid his plans before the King, who 
warmly approved of them, and made him a Chevalier. He also receiv:!d 
from all the noblemen the warmest wishes for his success. The Chev 



THE NORTHWEST TEREITORY. 



25 



alier returned to Canada, and busily entered upon his work. He at 
once rebuilt Fort Frontenac and constructed the first ship to sail on 
these fresh-water seas. On the 7th of August, 1679, having been joined 
by Hennepin, he began his voyage in the Griffin up Lake Erie. He 
passed over this lake, through the straits beyond, up Lake St. Clair and 
into Huron. In this lake they encountered heavy storms. They were 
some time at Michillimackinac, where LaSalle founded a fort, and passed 
on to Green Bay, the " Baie des Puans " of the French, where he found 
a large quantity of furs collected for him. He loaded the Griffin with 
these, and placing her under the care of a pilot and fourteen sailors. 




LA SALLE LANDING ON THE SHORE OF GREEN BAY. 

started her on her return voyage. The vessel was never afterward heard 
of. He remained about these parts until early in the Winter, when, hear- 
ing nothing from the Griffin, he collected all the men — thirty working 
men and three monks — and started again upon his great undertaking. 

By a short portage they passed to the Illinois or Kankakee, called by 
the Indians, "Theakeke," wolf, because of the tribes of Indians called 
by that name, commonly known as the Mahingans, dwelling there. The 
French pronounced it Kiakiki, which became corrupted to Kankakee. 
"Falling down the said river by easy journeys, the better to observe the 
country," about the last of December they reached a village of the Illi- 
nois Indians, containing some five hundred cabins, but at that moment 



26 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

no inhabitants. The Seur de LaSalle being in want of some breadstuffs, 
took advantage of the absence of the Indians to help himself to a suffi- 
ciency of maize, large quantities of which he found concealed in holes 
under the wigwams. This village was situated near the present village 
of Utica in LaSalle County, Illinois. The corn being securely stored, 
the voyagers again betook themselves to the stream, and toward evening, 
on the 4th day of January, 1680, they came into a lake which must have 
been the lake of Peoria. This was called by the Indians Pim-i-te-wi, that 
is, a place ivhere there are many fat beasts. Here the natives were met 
with in large numbers, but they were gentle and kind, and having spent 
some time with them, LaSalle determined to erect another fort in that 
place, for he had heard rumors that some of the adjoining tribes were 
trying to disturb the good feeling which existed, and some of his men 
were disposed to complain, owing to the hardships and perils of the travel. 
He called this fort " Oreveeosur'' (broken-heart), a name expressive of the 
very natural sorrow and anxiety which the pretty certain loss of his ship. 
Griffin, and his consequent impoverishment, the danger of hostility on the 
part of the Indians, and of mutiny among his own men, might well cause 
him. His fears were not entirely groundless. At one time poison Avas 
placed in his food, but fortunately was discovered. 

While building this fort, the Winter wore away, the prairies began to 
look green, and LaSalle, despairing of any reinforcements, concluded to 
return to Canada, raise new means and new men, and embark anew in 
the enterprise. For this purpose he made Hennepin the leader of a party 
to explore the head waters of the Mississippi, and he set out on his jour- 
ney. This journey was accomplished with the aid of a few persons, and 
was successfully made, though over an almost u jknown route, and in a 
bad season of the year. He safely reached Canada, and set out again for 
the object of his search. 

Hennepin and his party left Fort Crevecceur on the last of February, 
1680. When LaSalle reached this place on his return expedition, he 
found the fort entirely deserted, and he was obliged to return again to 
Canada. He embarked tiie third time, and succeeded. Seven daA^s after 
leaving the fort, Hennepin reached the Mississij^pi, and paddling up the 
icy stream as best he could, reached no higher than the Wisconsin River 
by the 11th of April. Here he and his followers were taken prisoners by a 
band of Northern Indians, who treated them with great kindness. Hen- 
nepin's comrades were Anthonj' Auguel and Michael Ako. On this voy- 
age they found several beautiful lakes, and " saw some charming prairies." 
Their captors were the Isaute or Sauteurs, Chippewas. a tribe of the Sioux 
nation, who took them up the river until about the first of May, when 
they reached some falls, which Hennepin christened Falls of St. Anthony 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



2T 



in honor of his patron saint. Here tliey took the land, and traveling 
nearly two hundred miles to the northwest, brought them to their villages. 
Here they were kept aljout three months, were treated kindly by their 
captors, and at the end of that time, were met by a band of Frenchmen, 




BtrPFALO HUNT. 



headed by one Seur de Luth, who, in pursuit of trade and game, had pene- 
trated thus far by the route of Lake Superior; and with these fellow- 
countrymen Hennepin and his companions were allowed to return to the 
borders of civilized life in November, 1680, just after LaSalle had 
returned to the wilderness on his second trip. Hennepin soon after went 
to France, where he published an account of his adventures. 



28 THE KOBTHWEST TERRITOEY. 

The Mississippi was first discovered by De Soto in April, 1541, in his 
vain endeavor to find gold and precious gems. In the following Spring, 
De Soto, weary with hope long deferred, and worn out with his wander- 
ings, he fell a victim to disease, and on the 21st of May died. His followers, 
reduced by fatigue and disease to less than three hundred men, wandered 
about the country nearly a year, in the vain endeavor to rescue them- 
selves by land, and finally constructed seven small vessels, called brigan- 
tines, in which they embarked, and descending the river, supposing it 
would lead them to the sea, in July they came to the sea (Gulf of 
Mexico), and by September reached the Island of Cuba. 

They were the first to see the great outlet of the Mississippi ; but, 
being so weary and discouraged, made no attempt to claim the country, 
and hardly had an intelligent idea of wiiat they had passed through. 

To La Salle, the intrepid explorer, belongs the honor of giving the 
first account of the mouths of the river. His great desire was to possess 
this entire country for his king, and in January, 1682, he and his band of 
explorers left tlie shores of Lake Michigan on their third attempt, crossed 
the portage, passed down the Illinois River, and on the 6th of February, 
reached the banks of the Mississippi. 

On tiie 13th they commenced their downward course, which they 
pursued with but one interruption, until ujion the 6th of March tliey dis- 
covered the three great passages by which the river discharges its waters 
into tiie gulf. La Salle thus narrates the event : 

" We landed on the bank of tlie most western channel, about three 
leagues (nine miles) from its mouth. On the seventh, M. de l^aSalle 
went to recounoiter the shores of the neighboring sea, and M. de Tonti 
meanwhile examined the great middle channel. They found the main 
outlets beautiful, large and deep. On the 8th we reascended the river, a 
little above its confluence with the sea, to find a dry place beyond the 
TBfmh of inundations. The elevation of the North Pole was here about 
twenty-seven degrees. Here we prepared a column and a cross, and to 
the column were affixed the arms of France with this inscription : 

Louis Le Grand, Roi De France et de Navarre, regne ; Le neuvieme Avril, 16S2. 

Tlie whole p;n'ty, under arms, chanted the Te Deum, and then, after 
a salute and cries of " Vive le Roi," the column was erected by M. de 
La Salle, wlio, stamlinL; near it, proclaimed in a loud voice the authority of 
the King of France. LaSalle returned and laid tlie foundations of tiie Mis- 
sissippi settlements in Illinois, thence he proceeded to France, where 
another expedition was fitted out, of whieli he was commander, and in two 
succeeding voyages failed to find the outlet of the river by sailing along 
the shore of the gulf. On his third voyage he was killed, through the 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



29 



treachery of his followers, and the object of his expeditions was not 
accomplished until 1699, when D'Iberville, under the authority of the 
crown, discovered, on the second of March, by way of the sea, the mouth 
of the " Hidden River." This majestic stream was called by the natives 
"iKfaZftoMf/i/a," and by the Spaniards, '■'■la Palissade" Lorn the great 




^f< ^m^^^^'^^ liM 



TRAPPING. 

number of trees about its mouth. After traversing the several outlets, 
and satisfying himself as to its certainty, he erected a fort near its western 
outlet, and returned to France. 

An avenue of trade was now opened out which was fully improved. 
In 1718, New Orleans was laid out and settled by some European colo- 
nists. In 1762, the colony was made over to Spain, to be regained by 
France under the consulate of Napoleon. In 1803, it was purchased b^ 



30 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORV. 

the United States foi- the sum of fifteen million dollars, and the territory 
of Louisiana and commerce of the Mississippi River came under the 
charge of the United States. Although LaSalle's labors ended in defeat 
and death, he had not worked and suffered in vain. He had thrown 
open to France and the world an immense and most valuable country; 
had established several ports, and laid the foundations of more than one 
settlement there. " Peoria, Kaskaskia and Cahokia, are to this day monu- 
ments of LaSalle's labors ; for, though he had founded neither of them 
(unless Peoria, which was built nearly upon the site of Fort Crevecceur,) 
it was by those whom he led into the West that these places were 
peopled and civilized. He was, if not the discoverer, the first settler of 
the Mississippi Valley, and as such deserves to l)e known and honored." 

The French early improved the opening made for them. Before the 
year 1698, the Rev. Father Gravier began a mission among the Illinois, 
and founded Kaskaskia. For some time this was merely a missionary 
station, where none but natives resided, it being one of three such vil- 
lages, the other two being Cahokia and Peoria. What is known of 
these missions is learned from a letter written by Father Gabriel Marest, 
dated " Aux Cascaskias, autrement dit de I'linmaculate Conception de 
la Sainte Vierge, le 9 Novembre, 1712." Soon after the founding of 
Kaskaskia, the missionary, Pinet, gathered a flock at Cahokia, while 
Peoria arose near the ruins of Fort Crevecceur. This must have been 
about the year 1700. The post at Vincennes on the Oubache river, 
(pronounced Wa-ba, meaning summer cloud movinc/ swiftli/) was estab- 
lished in 1702, according to the best authorities.* It is altogether prob- 
able that on LaSalle's last trip he established the stations at Kaskaskia 
and Cahokia. In July, 1701, the foundations of Fort Ponchartrain 
were laid by De la Motte Cadillac on the Detroit River. These sta- 
tions, with those established further north, were the earliest attempts to 
occupy the Northwest Territory. At the same time efforts were being 
made to occupy the Southwest, which finally culminated in the settle- 
ment and founding of the City of New Orleans by a colony from England 
in 1718. This was mainly accomplished through tlie efforts of the 
famous Mississippi Company, established by the notorious John Law, 
who so quickly arose into prominence in France, and wlio witli his 
scheme so quickly and so ignominiously passed away. 

From the time of the founding of these stations for fifty years the 
French nation were engrossed with the settlement of the lower Missis- 
sippi, and the war with the Chicasaws, who had, in revenge for repeated 

• There Is consiaer.il)lc dlspuU! ahout tills a.ite. some asserting It was fminileil as late as I7ii. When 
the new court house at Vincennes was erecteil. all authuritlcs on the subject were carefully examined, and 
HO'i flied upon as tbe correct date. It was accorUlugly engraved on the corner-stone of the court house. 



/ 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITOKT. 31 

injuries, cut off the entire colony at Natcliez. Although the company 
did little for Louisiana, as the entire West was then called, yet it opened 
the trade through the Mississippi River, and started the raising of grains 
indigenous to that climate. Until the year 1750, but little is known of 
the settlements in the Northwest, as it was not until this time that the 
attention of the English was called to the occupation of this portion of the 
New World, which they then supposed they owned. Vivier, a missionary 
among the Illinois, writing from " Aux Illinois," six leagues from Fort 
Chartres, June 8, 1750, says: "We have here whites, negroes and 
Indians, to say nothing of cross-breeds. There are five French villages, 
and three villages of the natives, within a space of twenty-one leagues 
situated between the Mississippi and another river called the Karkadaid 
(Kaskaskias). In the five French villages are, perhaps, eleven hundred 
whites, three hundred blacks and some sixty red slaves or savages. The 
three Illinois towns do not contain more than eight hundred souls all 
told. Most of the French till the soil; they raise wheat, cattle, pigs and 
horses, and live like princes. Three times as much is produced as can 
be consumed; and great quantities of grain and flour are sent to New 
Orleans." This city was now the seaport town of the Northwest, and 
save in the extreme northern part, where only furs and copper ore were 
found, almost all the products of the country found their way to France 
by the mouth of the Father of Waters. In another letter, dated Novem- 
ber 7, 1750, this same priest says : " For fifteen leagues above the 
mouth of the Mississippi one sees no dwellings, the ground being too low 
to be habitable. Thence to New Orleans, the lands are onh^ partially 
occupied. New Orleans contains black, white and red, not more, I 
think, than twelve hundred persons. To this point come all lumber, 
bricks, salt-beef, tallow, tar, skins and bear's grease ; and above all, pork 
and flour from the Illinois. These things create some commerce, as forty 
vessels and more have come hither this year. Above New Orleans, 
plantations are again met with ; the most considerable is a colony of 
Germans, some ten leagues up the river. At Point Coupee, thirty-five 
leagues above the German settlement, is a fort. Along here, within five 
or six leagues, are not less tlian sixty habitations. Fifty leagues farther 
up is the Natchez post, where we have a garrison, who are kept prisoners 
through fear of the Cliiekasaws. Here and at Point Coupee, they raise 
excellent tobacco. Another hundred leagues brings us to the Arkansas, 
where we have also a fort and a garrison for the benefit of tlie river 
traders. * * * From the Arkansas to the Illinois, nearly five hundred 
leagues, there is not a settlement. There should be, however, a fort at 
the Oubache (Ohio), the only path by which the English can reach the 
Mississippi. In the Illinois country are numberless mines, but no one to 



32 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



work them as tliey deserve." Father Marest, writing from the post at 
Vinceiines in 1812, makes the same observation. Vivier also says : " Some 
iudivicliials dig lead near the surface and supjaly the Indians and Canada. 
Two Spaniards now here, who claim to be adepts, say that our mines are 
like those of Mexico, and that if we would dig deeper, we should find 
silver under the lead ; and at any rate the lead is excellent. There is also 
in this countrj-, beyond douljt, copper ore, as from time to time large 
pieces are found in the streams." 










HUNTING. 



At tlie close of the year 1750, the French occupied, in addition to the 
lower Mississippi posts and those in Illinois, one at Du Quesne, one at 
the Maumoe in the country of the Miamis, and one at Sandusky in what 
may be termed the Ohio Valley. In the northern part of the Northwest 
they had stations at St. Joscj)h's on tlie St. .Toscph's of Lake Micliigan, 
at Fort Ponchartrain (Detroit), at Michillimackanac or Massillinuicanac, 
Fox River of Green Bay, and at Sault Ste. Marie. Tlie fondest dreams of 
LaSalle were now fully realized. The French alone were possessors of 
this vast realm, basing their claim on discovery and settlement. Another 
nation, however, was now turning its attention to this extensive country, 



f 



THE NORTHWEST TEKKITORY. 33 

ami hearing of its wealth, began to lay plans for occupying it and for 
securing the great profits arising therefrom. 

The French, however, had another claim to this country, namely, the 



DISCOVERY OF THE OHIO. 

This " Beautiful" river was discovered by Robert Cavalier de La- 
Salle in 1669, four years before the discovery of the Mississippi by Joliefc 
and Marquette. 

While LaSalle was at his trading post on the St. Lawrence, he found 
leisure to study nine Indian dialects, the chief of which was the Iroquois. 
He not only desired to facilitate his intercourse in trade, but he longed 
to travel and explore the unknown regions of the West. An incident 
soon occurred Avhich decided him to fit out an exploring expedition. 

While conversing with some Senecas, he learned of a river called the 
Ohio, which rose in their country and flowed to the sea, but at such a 
distance that it required eight months to reach its mouth. In this state- 
ment the Mississippi and its tributaries were considered as one stream. 
LaSalle believing, as most of the French at that period did, that the great 
rivers flowing west emptied into the Sea of California, was anxious to 
Embark in the enterprise of discovering a route across the continent to 
the commerce of Cliina and Japan. 

He repaired at once to Quebec to obtain the approval of the Gov- 
ernor. His eloquent appeal prevailed. The Governor and the Intendant, 
Talon, issued letters patent authorizing the enterprise, but made no pro- 
vision to defray the expenses. At this juncture the seminary of St. Sul- 
pice decided to send out missionaries in connection with the expedition, 
and LaSalle offering to sell his improvements at LaChine to raise money, 
the offer was accepted by the Superior, and two thousand eight hundred 
dollars were raised, with which LaSalle purchased four canoes and the 
necessary supplies for the outfit. 

On the 6th of Jul}', 1669, the party, numbering twenty-four persons, 
embarked in seven canoes on the St. Lawrence ; two additional canoes 
carried the Indian guides. In three days they were gliding over the 
bosom of Lake Ontario. Their guides conducted them directly to the 
Seneca village on the bank of the Genesee, in the vicinity of the present 
City of Rochester, New York. Here they expected to procure guides to 
conduct them to the Ohio, but in this they were disappointed. 

The Indians seemed unfriendly to the enterprise. LaSalle suspected 
that the Jesuits had prejudiced their minds against his plans. After 
waiting a month in the hope of gaining their object, they met an Indian 



34 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



from the Iroquois colouy at the head of Lake Ontario, who assured them 
that they could there find guides, and offered to conduct them thence. 

On their way they passed the mouth of the Niagara River, when they 
heard for the first time the distant thunder of the cataract. Arriving 







LKUyUOlS Cllliil!'. 

among the Iroquois, they met witli a friendly reception, and learned 
from a Shawanee prisoner that they could reach the Ohio in six weeks. 
Delighted with tlie unexpected good fortune, they made ready to resume 
their journey ; hut just as they were about to start they heard of the 
arrival of two Frenchmen in a neigiihoring village. One of them proved 
to be Louis Joliet, afterwards famous as an explorer in the West. He 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 35 

had been sent by the Canadian Government to explore the copper mines 
on Lake Superior, but had failed, and was on his way back to Quebec. 
He gave the missionaries a map of the country he had explored in the 
lake region, together with an account of the condition of the Jndians in 
that quarter. This induced the priests to determine on leaving the 
expedition and going to Lake Superior. LaSalle warned them that the 
Jesuits were probably occupying that field, and that they would meet 
with a cold reception. Nevertheless they persisted in their purpose, and 
after worship on the lake shore, parted from LaSalle. On arriving at 
Lake Superior, they found, as LaSalle had predicted, the Jesuit Fathers, 
Marquette and Dablon, occupying the field. 

These zealous disciples of Loj^ola informed them that they wanted 
no assistance from St. Sulpice, nor from those who made him their patron 
saint; and thus repulsed, they returned to Montreal the following June 
without having made a single discovery or converted a single Indian. 

After parting with the priests, LaSalle went to the chief Iroquois 
village at Onondaga, where he obtained guides, and passing thence to a 
tributary of the Ohio south of Lake Erie, he descended the latter as far 
as the falls at Louisville. Thus was the Ohio discovered by LaSalle, the 
persevering and successful French explorer of the West, in 1669. 

The account of the latter part of his journey is found in an anony- 
mous paper, which purports to have been taken from the lips of LaSalle 
himself during a subsequent visit to Paris. In a letter written to Count 
Frontenac in 1667, shortly after the discovery, he himself says that he 
discovered the Ohio and descended it to the falls. This was regarded as 
an indisputable fact by the French authorities, who claimed the Ohio 
Valley upon another ground. When Washington was sent by the colony 
of Virginia in 1753, to demand of Gordeur de St. Pierre why tlie French 
had built a fort on the Monongahela, the haughty commandant at Quebec 
replied : " We claim the country on the Ohio by virtue of the discoveries 
of LaSalle, and* will not give it up to the English. Our orders are to 
make prisoners of every Englishman found trading in the Ohio Valley." 



ENGLISH EXPLORATIONS AND SETTLEMENTS. 

When the new year of 1750 broke in upon the Father of Waters 
and the Great Northwest, all was still wild save at the French posts 
already described. In 1749, when the English first began to think seri- 
ously about sending men into the West, the greater portion of the States 
of Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota were yet 
under the dominion of the red men. The English knew, however, pretty 



36 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

conclusively of the nature of the wealth of these wilds. As early as 
1710, Governor Spotswood, of Virginia, had commenced movements to 
secure the country west of the Alleghenies to the English crown. In 
Penns3'lvania, Governor Keith and James Logan, secretary of the prov- 
ince, from 1719 to 1731, represented to the powers of England the neces- 
sity of securing the Western lands. Nothing was done, however, by that 
power save to take some diplomatic steps to secure the claims of Britain 
to this unexplored wilderness. 

England had from the outset claimed from the Atlantic to the Pacific, 
on the ground that the discoveiy of the seacoast and its possession was a 
discovery and possession of the country, and, as is well known, her grants 
to the colonies extended " from sea to sea." This was not all her claim. 
She had purchased from the Indian tribes large tracts of land. This lat- 
ter was also a strong argument. As early as 1684, Lord H oward. Gov- 
ernor of Virginia, held a treaty with the six nations. These were the 
great Northern Confederacy, and comprised at first the Mohawks, Onei- 
das, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas. Afterward the Tuscaroras were 
taken into the confederacy, and it became known as the Six Nations. 
They came under the protection of the mother country, and again in 
1701, they repeated the agreement, and in September, 1726, a formal deed 
was drawn up and signed by the chiefs. The validity of this claim has 
often been disputed, but never successfully. In 1744, a purchase was 
made at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, of certain lands within the " Colony of 
Virginia," for which the Indians received £200 in gold and a like sum in 
goods, with a promise that, as settlements increased, more should be paid. 
The Commissioners from Virginia were Colonel Thomas Lee and Colonel 
William Beverly. As settlements extended, the promise of more pay was 
called to mind, and Mr. Conrad Weiser was sent across the mountains with 
presents to appease the savages. Col. Lee, and some Virginians accompa- 
nied him with the intention of sounding the Indians upon their feelings 
regarding the English. They were not satisfied with their treatment, 
and phiinly told the Commissioners why. The English did not desire the 
cultivation of the country, but the monopoly of the Indian trade. In 
1748, the Ohio Company was formed, and petitioned the king for a grant 
of land beyond the Alleghenies. This was granted, and the government 
of Virginia was ordered to grant to them a half million acres, two hun- 
dred thousand of which were to be located at once. Upon the 12th of 
June, 1749, 800,000 acres from tlie line of Canada north and west was- 
made to the Loyal Company, and on the 29lh of October, 1751, 100,000 
acres were given to the Greenbriar Company. All this time Ihe French 
were not idle. They saw tliat, should the British gain a footliold in tlie 
West, especially upon the Ohio, they might not only prevent the Freqch 



THE NOUTHWEST TERRITORY. 3T 

settling upon it, but in time would come to the lower posts and so gain 
possession of the whole country. Upon the 10th of May, 1774, Vaud- 
reuil, Governor of Canada and the F'rench possessions, well knowing the 
consequences that must arise from allowing tlie English to build trading- 
posts in the Northwest, seized some of tlieir frontier posts, and to further 
secure the claim of the French to the West, he, in 1719, sent Louis Cel- 
eron with a party of soldiers to plant along the Ohio River, in the mounds 
and at the mouths of its principal tributaries, plates of lead, on which 
were inscribed the claims of France. These were heard of in 1752, and 
within the memory of residents nqw living along the "■ Oyo," as the 
beautiful river was called by the French. One of these plates was found 
with the inscription partly defaced. It bears date August 16, 1749, and 
a copy of the inscription with particular account of the discovery of the 
plate, was sent by DeWitt Clinton to the American Antiquarian Society, 
among whose journals it may now be found.* These measures did not, 
however, deter the English from going on with their explorations, and 
though neither party resorted to arms, yet the conflict was gathering, and 
it was only a question of time when the storm would burst upon tlie 
frontier settlements. In 1750, Christopher Gist was sent by the Ohio 
Company to examine its lands. He went to a village of the Twigtwees, 
on the Miami, about one hundred and fifty miles above its mouth. He 
afterward spoke of it as very pojiulous. From there he went down 
the Ohio River nearly to the falls at the present City of Louisville, 
and in November he commenced a survey of the Company's lands. Dur- 
ing the Winter, General Andrew Lewis performed a similar work for the 
Greenbriar Company. Meanwhile the French were busy in preparing 
their forts for defense, and in opening roads, and also sent a small party 
of soldiers to keep the Ohio clear. This party, having heard of the Eng- 
lish post on the Miami River, early in 1652, assisted by the Ottawas and 
Chippewas, attacked it, and, after a severe battle, in which fourteen of 
the natives were killed and others wounded, captured the garrison. 
(They were probably garrisoned in a block house). Tlie traders were 
carried away to Canada, and one account says several were burned. This 
fort or post was called by the English Pickawillan3^ A memorial of the 
king's ministers refers to it as " Pickawillanes, in the center of the terri- 
tory between the Ohio and the Wabash. The name is probably some 
variation of Pickaway or Picqua in 1773, written by Rev. David Jones 
Pickaweke." 

■■ The following Is a tr.ijislation of the inscription on the plate: ''la the year 1749. reijcn of Louis XV., 
King of France, we. Celeron, commandant of a detachment by Monsieur the Marquis of Gallisoniere, com- 
mander-in-chief of New France, to establish tranquility in certain Indian villages of these cantons, Iiave 
buried this plate at the confluence of the Toradakoin. this twenty-ninth of July, near the river Ohio, otherwise 
Beautiful River, as a moiuunentof renewal of possession whicli we have talien of the said river, ami all its 
tributaries; inasmuch as the preceding Kings of Fraucc have enjoyed it, and maintained it by their arms and 
treaties; especially by those of Ryswicli, Utrecht, and Aix La Chapelle." 



S8 THE NORTHWEST TERRITOEY, 

This was the first blood shed between the French and English, and 
occurred near the pi-esent City of Piqua, Ohio, or at least at a point about 
forty-seven miles north of Dayton. Each nation became now more inter- 
ested in the progress of events in the Northwest. The English deter- 
mined to purchase from the Indians a title to the lands they wished tO' 
occupy, and Messrs. Fry (afterward Commander-in-chief over Washing- 
ton at the commencement of the French War of 1775-1763), Lomax and 
Patton were sent in the Spring of 1752 to hold a conference with the 
natives at Logstown to learn what they objected to in the treaty of Lan- 
caster already noticed, and to settle all diflSculties. On the 9th of June, 
these Commissioners met the red men at Logstown, a little village on the 
north bank of the Ohio, about seventeen miles below the site of Pitts- 
burgh. Here had been a trading point for many years, but it was aban- 
doned by the Indians in 1750. At first the Indians declined to recognize 
the treaty of Lancaster, but, the Commissioners taking aside Montour,, 
the interpreter, who was a son of the famous Catharine Montour, and a 
chief among the six nations, induced him to use his influence in their 
favor. This he did, and upon the loth of June they all united in signing^ 
a deed, confirming the Lancaster treaty in its full extent, consenting to a^ 
settlement of the southeast of the Ohio, and guaranteeing that it should 
not be disturbed by them. These M'ere the means used to obtain the first 
treaty with the Indians in the Ohio Valley. 

Meanwhile the powers beyond the sea were trying to out-manceuvre 
each other, and were professing to be at peace. The English generally 
outwitted the Indians, and failed in many instances to fulfill their con- 
tracts. They thereby gained the ill-will of the red men, and further 
increased the feeling by failing to provide them with arms and ammuni- 
tion. Said an old chief, at Easton, in 1758 : " The Indians on the Oliio 
left you because of your own fault. When we heard the French were 
coming, we asked you for help and arms, but we did not get them. The 
French came, they treated us kindly, and gained our affections. The 
Governor of V^irginia settled on our lands for his own benefit, and, when. 
we wanted help, forsook us." 

At the beginning of 1653, the English thought they had secured by 
title the lands in the West, but the French had quietly gathered cannon 
and militai-y stores to be in readiness for the expected blow. The Eng- 
lish made other attempts to ratify these existing treaties, but not until 
the Summer could the Indians be gathered together to discuss the plans 
of the French. They had sent messages to tlie French, warning them 
away ; but they replied that they intended to complete the chain of forts 
already l)eguu, and would not abandon the field. 

Soon after this, no satisfaction being obtained from the Ohio regard- 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 39 

ing the positions and pm-poses of the French, Governoi- Dinwiddie of 
Virginia determined to send to them another messenger and learn from 
them, if possible, tlieir intentions. For this purpose he selected a young 
man, a surveyor, who, at the earl}^ age of nineteen, had received the rank 
of major, and who was thoroughlj' posted regarding frontier life. This 
personage was no other than the illustrious George Washington, who then 
held considerable interest in Western lands. He was at this time just 
twenty-two years of age. Taking Gist as his guide, the two, accompanied 
by four servitors, set out on their perilous march. They left Will's 
Creek on the 10th of November, 1753, and on the 22d reached the Monon- 
gahela, about ten miles above the fork. From there thej^ went to 
Logstown, where Washington had a long conference with the chiefs of 
the Six Nations. From them he learned the condition of the French, and 
also heard of their determination not to come down the river till the fol- 
lowing Spring. The Indians were non-committal, as they were afraid to 
turn either way, and, as far as the}' could, desired to remain neutral. 
Washington, finding nothing could be done with them, went on to 
Venango, an old Indian town at the mouth of French Creek. Here the 
French had a fort, called Fort Machault. Through the rum and flattery 
of the French, he nearly lost all his Indian followers. Finding nothing 
of importance here, he pursued his way amid great privations, and on the 
11th of December reached the fort at the head of French Creek. Here 
he delivered Governor Dinwiddie's letter, received his answer, took his 
observations, and on the 16tli set out upon his return journey with no one 
but Gist, his guide, and a few Indians who still remained true to him, 
notwithstanding the endeavors of the French to retain them. Their 
homeward journey was one of great peril and suffering from the cold, yet 
they reached home in safety on the 6th of January, 1754. 

From the letter of St. Pierre, commander of the French fort, sent by 
Washington to Governor Dinwiddie, it was learned that the French would 
not give up without a struggle. Active preparations were at once made 
in all the English colonies for the coming conflict, while the French 
finished the fort at Venango and strengthened their lines of fortifications, 
and gathered their forces to be in readiness. 

The Old Dominion was all alive. Virginia was the center of gi'eat 
:activitifes ; volunteers were called for, and from all the neighboring 
colonies men rallied to the conflict, and everywhere along the Potomac 
men were enlisting under the Governor's proclamation — whicli promised 
two hundred thousand acres on the Ohio. Along this river they were 
gathering as far as Will's Creek, and far beyond this point, whither Trent 
Jiad come for assistance for his little band of forty-one men, who were 



40 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

working away in hunger and want, to fortify that point at the fork of 
the Ohio, to which both parties were looking with deep interest. 

" The first birds of Spring filled the air with their song ; the swift 
river rolled by the Allegheny hillsides, swollen by the melting snows of 
Spring and the April showers. The leaves were appearing ; a few Indian 
scouts were seen, but no enemy seemed near at hand ; and all was so quiet,, 
that Frazier, an old Indian scout and trader, who had been left by Trent 
in command, ventured to his home at the mouth of Turtle Creek, ten 
miles up the Monongahela. But, though all was so quiet in that wilder- 
ness, keen eyes had seen the low intrenchment rising at the fork, and 
swift feet had borne the news of it up the river ; and iipon the morning 
of the 17th of April, Ensign Ward, who then had charge of it, saw 
upon the Allegheny a sight that made his heart sink — sixty batteaux and 
three hundred canoes filled with men, and laden deep with cannon and 
stores. * * * That evening he supped with his captor, Contrecoeur,, 
and the next day he was bowed off liy the Frenchman, and with his men 
and tools, marched ujo the Monongahela."' 

The French and Indian war had begun. The treaty of Aix la 
Chai)elle, in 1748, had left the boundaries between the French and 
English possessions unsettled, and the events already narrated show the 
French were determined to hold the country watered by the Mississippi 
and its tributaries ; while the English laid claims to the country by virtue 
of the discoveries of the Cabots, and claimed all the country from New- 
foundland to Florida, extending from the Atlantic to tiie Pacific. The 
first decisive blow had now been struck, and the first attempt of the 
English, through the Ohio Company, to occupy these lands, had resulted 
disasti'ously to them. The French and Indians immediately completed 
the fortifications begun at the Fork, which they had so easily captured,, 
and when completed gave to the fort the name of DuQuesne. Washing- 
ton was at Will's Creek when the news of the captui-e of the fort arrived. 
He at once departed to recapture it. On his way he entrenched him- 
self at a place called the " Meadows," where he erected a fort called 
by him Fort Necessity. From there he surprised and captured a force of 
French and Indians marching against him, but was soon after attacked 
in his fort by a much superior force, and was obliged to yield on the 
morning of .Tuly 4th. He was allowed to return to Virginia. 

The English Government immediatel}' phuuu'd four campaigns ; one 
against Fort DuQuesne ; one against Nova Scotia ; one against Fort 
Niagara, and one against Crown Point. These oi'curred during 1755-6, 
and were not successful in driving the French from their possessions. 
The expedition against Fort DuQuesne was led by the famous General 
Braddock, who, refu'sing to listen to the advice of Washington and those 



XHK NOETHWEST TERRITORY. 41 

acquainted with Indian warfare, suffered such an inglorious defeat. This 
occurred on the morning of July 9th, and is generally known as the battle 
of Monongahela, or " Braddock's Defeat." The war continued with 
various vicissitudes through the years 1756-7 ; when, at the commence- 
ment of 1758, in accordance with the plans of William Pitt, then Secre- 
tary of State, afterwards Lord Chatham, active preparations were made to 
carry on the war. Three expeditious were planned for this year : one, 
under General Amherst, against Louisburg ; another, under Abercrombie, 
against Fort Ticonderoga ; and a third, under General Forbes, against 
Fort DuQuesne. On the 26th of July, Louisburg surrendered after a 
desperate resistance of more than forty days, and the eastern part of the 
Canadian possessions fell into the hands of the British. Abercrombie 
captured Fort Frontenac, and when the expedition against Fort DuQuesne, 
of which Washington had the active command, arrived there, it was 
found in flames and deserted. The English at once took possession, 
rebuilt the fort, and in honor of their illustrious statesman, changed the 
name to Fort Pitt. 

The great object of the campaign of 1759, was the reduction of 
Canada. General Wolfe was to lay siege to Quebec ; Amherst was to 
reduce Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and General Prideaux was to 
capture Niagara. This latter place was taken in July, but the gallant 
Prideaux lost his life in the attempt. Amherst captured Ticonderoga 
and Crown Point without a blow ; and Wolfe, after making the memor- 
able ascent to the Plains of Abraham, on September 13th, defeated 
Montcalm, and on the 18th, the city capitulated. In this engagement 
Montcolm and Wolfe lioth lost their lives. De Levi, Montcalm's successor, 
marched to Sillery, three miles above the city, with the purpose of 
defeating the English, and there, on the 28tli of the following Api'il, was 
fought one of the bloodiest battles of the French and Indian War. It 
resulted in the defeat of the French, and the fall of the City of Montreal. 
The Governor signed a capitulation by which the whole of Canada was 
surrendered to the English. This practically concluded the war, but it 
was not until 1763 that the treaties of peace between France and England 
were signed. This was done on the 10th of February of that year, and 
under its provisions all the country east of the Mississippi and north of 
the Iberville River, in Louisiana, were ceded to England. At the same 
time Spain ceded Floiida to Great Britain. 

On the 13th of September, 1760, Ma,)or Robert Rogers was sent 
from Montreal to take charge of Detroit, the only remaining French post 
in the territory. He arrived there on the 19th of November, and sum- 
moned the place to surrender. At first the tommander of the post, 
Beletre refused, but on the 29th, hearing of the continued defeat of the 



42 THE XOETHWEST TERRITORY. 

French arms, surrendered. Rogers remained there until December 23d 
under the personal protection of the celebrated chief, Pontiac, to whom, 
no doubt, he owed his safety. Pontiac had come here to inquire the 
purposes of the English in taking possession of the country. He was 
assured that they came simply to trade with the natives, and did not 
desire their country. This answer conciliated the savages, and did much 
to insure the safety of Rogers and his party during their stay, and while 
on their journey home. 

Rogers set out for Fort Pitt on December 23, and was just one 
month on the way. His route was from Detroit to Maumee, thence 
across the present State of Ohio directly to the fort. This was the com- 
mon trail of the Indians in their journeys from Sandusky to the fork of 
the Ohio. It went from Fort Sandusky, where Sandusky City now is, 
crossed the Huron river, then called Bald Eagle Creek, to " Mohickon 
John's Town " on Mohickon Creek, the northern branch of White 
Woman's River, and thence crossed to Beaver's Town, a Delaware town 
on what is now Sandy Creek. At Beaver's Town were probably one 
hundred and fifty warriors, and not less than three thousand acres of 
cleared land. From there the track went up Sandy Creek to and across 
Big Beaver, and up the Ohio to Logstown, thence on to the fork. 

The Northwest Territory was now entirely under the English rule. 
New settlements began to be rapidly made, and the promise of a large 
trade was speedily manifested. Had the British carried out their promises 
with the natives none of those savage butcheries would have been perpe- 
trated, and the country would have been spared their recital. 

The renowned chief, Pontiac, was one of the leading spirits in these 
atrocities. We will now pause in our narrative, and notice the leading 
events in his life. The earliest authentic information regarding this 
noted Indian chief is learned from an account of an Indian trader named 
Alexander Henry, who, in the Spring of 1761, penetrated his domains as 
far as Missillimacnac. Pontiac was then a great friend of the French, 
but a bitter foe of the English, whom he considered as encroaching on his 
hunting grounds. Henry was obliged to disguise himself as a Canadian 
to insure safety, but was discovered by Pontiac, who bitterly reproached 
him and the English for their attempted subjugation of the West. He 
declared that no treaty had been made with them ; no presents sent 
them, and that he would resent any possession of the West by that nation. 
He was at the time about fifty years of age, tall and dignified, and was 
civil and military ruler of the Ottawas, Ojibwas and Pottawatamies. 

The Indians, from Lake Michigan to the borders of North Carolina, 
were united in this feeling, and at the time of the treaty of Paris, ratified 
February 10, 1763, a general conspiracy was formed to fall suddenly 



THE NORTHWEST TEERITOEY. 



43 




PONTIAC, THE OTTAWA CHIEFTAIN. 



44 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

upon the frontier British posts, and with one blow strike every man dead. 
Pontiac was the marked leader in all this, and was the commander 
of the Chippewas, Ottawas, Wyandots, Miamis, Shawanese, Delawares- 
and Mingoes, who had, for the time, laid aside their local quarrels to unit& 
in this enterprise. 

The blow came, as near as can now be ascertained, on May 7, 1768. 
Nine British posts fell, and the Indians drank, "■ scooped up in the hollow 
of joined hands," the blood of many a Briton. 

Pontiac's immediate field of action was the garrison at Detroit. 
Here, however, the plans were frustrated by an Indian woman disclosing 
the plot the evening previous to his arrival. Everything was carried out, 
however, according to Pontiac's plans until the moment of action, when 
Major Gladwyn, the commander of the post, stepping to one of the Indian 
chiefs, suddenly drew aside his blanket and disclosed the concealed 
musket. Pontiac, though a brave man, turned pale and trembled. He 
saw his plan was known, and that the garrison were prepared. He 
endeavored to exculpate himself from any such intentions ; but the guilt 
was evident, and he and his followers wei-e dismissed with a severe 
reprimand, and warned never to again enter the walls of the post. 

Pontiac at once laid siege to the fort, and until the treaty of peace 
between the British and the Western Indians, concluded in August, 1764, 
continued to harass and besiege the fortress. He organized a regular 
commissariat department, issued bills of credit written out on bark, 
which, to his credit, it may be stated, were punctually redeemed. At 
the conclusion of the treaty, in which it seems he took no part, he went 
further south, living many years among the Illinois. 

He had given up all hope of saving his country and race. After a 
time he endeavored to unite the Illinois tribe and those about St. Louis 
in a war with the whites. His efforts were fruitless, and only ended in a 
quarrel between himself and some Kaskaskia Indians, one of whom soon 
afterwards killed him. His death was. however, avenged by the northern 
Indians, who nearly exterminated the Illinois iu the wars which followed. 

Had it not been for the treachery of a few of his followers, his plan 
for the extermination of the whites, a masterl}' one, would undoubtedly 
have been carried out. 

It was in the Spring of the year following Rogers' visit that Alex- 
ander Henry went to Missillimacnac, and everywhere found the strongest 
feelings against the English, who had not carried out their promises, and 
were doing nothing to conciliate the natives. Here he met the chief, 
Pontiac, who, after conveying to him in a speech the idea that their 
French father would awake soon and utterly destroy his enemies, said : 
" Englishman, although you have conquered the French, you have not 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 45 

yet conquered us ! We are not your slaves ! These lakes, these woods, 
these mountains, were left us by our ancestors. They are our inheritance, 
and we will part with them to none. Your nation supposes that we, like 
the white people, can not live without bread and pork and beef. But you 
ought to know that He, the Great Spirit and Master of Life, has provided 
food for us upon these broad lakes and in these mountains." 

He then spoke of the fact that no treaty had been made with them,, 
no presents sent them, and that he and his people were yet for war. 
Such were the feelings of the Northwestern Indians immediately after 
the English took possession of their countr}^ These feelings were no 
doubt encouraged by the Canadians and French, who hoped that yet the 
French arms might prevail. The treaty of Paris, however, gave to the 
English the right to this vast domain, and active preparations were going, 
on to occupy it and enjoy its trade and emoluments. 

In 1762, France, by a secret treaty, ceded Louisiana to Spain, to pre- 
vent it falling into the hands of the English, who were becoming masters- 
of the entire West. The next year the treaty of Paris, signed at Fon- 
tainbleau, gave to the English the domain of the country in question.. 
Twenty years after, by the treaty of peace between the United States- 
and England, that part of Canada lying south and west of the Great. 
Lakes, comprehending a large territory which is the subject of these- 
sketches, was acknowledged to be a portion of the United States ; and 
twenty years still later, in 1803, Louisiana was ceded by Spain back to- 
France, and by France sold to the United States. 

In the half century, from the building of the Fort of Crevecceur by 
LaSalle, in 1680, up to the erection of Fort Chartres, many French set- 
tlements had been made in that quarter. These have already beerb 
noticed, being those at St. Vincent (Vincennes), Kohokia or Cahokia,. 
Kaskaskia and Prairie du Rocher, on the American Bottom, a large tract- 
of rich alluvial soil in Illinois, on the Mississippi, opposite the site of St. 
Louis. 

By the treaty of Paris, the regions east of the Mississippi, including; 
all these and other towns of the Northwest, were given over to England;, 
but they do not appear to have bean taken possession of until 1765, whea 
Captain Stirling, in the name of the Majesty of England, established him- 
self at Fort Chartres bearing with him the proclamation of General Gage^ 
dated December 30, 1764, which promised religious freedom to all Cath- 
olics who worshiped here, and a right to leave the country with their 
effects if they wished, or to remain with the privileges of Englishmen. 
It was shortly after the occupancy of the West by the British that the 
war with Pontiac opened. It is already noticed in the sketch of that 
chieftain- By it many a Bi-iton lost his life, and many a frontier settle- 



46 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

ment in its infancy ceased to exist. This was' not ended until the year 
1764, when, failing to capture Detroit, Niagara and Fort Pitt, his confed- 
■eracy became disheartened, and, receiving no aid from the French, Pon- 
tiac abandoned the enterprise and departed to the Illinois, among whom 
■he afterward lost liis life. 

As soon as these difficulties were definitely settled, settlers began 
rapidly to survey the country and prepare for occupation. During the 
year 1770, a number of persons from Virginia and other British provinces 
explored and marked out nearly all the valuable lands on the Mononga- 
hela and along the banks of the Ohio as far as the Little Kanawha. This 
■was followed by another exploring expedition, in which George Washing- 
ton was a party. The latter, accompanied by Dr. Craik, Capt. Crawford 
and others, on the 20tli of October, 1770, descended the Ohio from Pitts- 
burgh to the mouth of the Kanawha ; ascended that stream about fourteen 
miles, marked out several large tracts of land, shot several buffalo, which 
•were then abundant in the Ohio Valley, and returned to the fort. 

Pittsburgh was at this time a trading post, about which was clus- 
tered a village of some twenty houses, inhabited by Indian traders. This 
■same year, Capt. Pittman visited Kaskaskia and its neighboring villages. 
He found there about sixty-five resident families, and at Cahokia only 
forty-five dwellings. At Fort Chartres was another small settlement, and 
iit Detroit the garrison were quite prosperous and strong. For a year 
■or two settlers continued to locate near some of these posts, generally 
Fort Pitt or Detroit, owing to the fears of the Indians, who still main- 
tained some feelings of hatred to the English. The trade from the posts 
•was quite good, and from those in Illinois large quantities of pork and 
flour found their way to the New Orleans market. At this time the 
policy of the British Government was strongly opposed to the extension 
of the colonies west. In 1763, the King of England forbade, by royal 
proclamation, his colonial subjects from making a settlement beyond the 
sources of the rivers which fall into the Atlantic Ocean. At the instance 
of the Board of Trade, measures were taken to prevent the settlement 
without the limits prescribed, and to retain the commerce within easy 
reach of Great Britain. 

The commander-in-chief of the king's forces wrote in 1769 : " In the 
•course of a few years necessity will compel the colonists, should they 
extend their settlements west, to provide manufactures of some kind for 
themselves, and when all connection upheld by commerce with the mother 
country ceases, an i7ide pendency in tlieir government will soon follow. ' 

In accordance with this policy. Gov. Gage issued a proclamation 
in 1772, commanding the inhabitants of Vincennes to abandon their set- 
cements and join some of the Eastern English colonies. To this they 



THE NOKTHWEST TERRITORY. 4T 

strenuously objected, giving good reasons therefor, and were allowed tO' 
remain. The strong opposition to this policy of Great Britain led to it» 
change, and to such a course as to gain the attachment of the French 
population. In December, 1773, influential citizens of Quebec petitioned 
the king for an extension of the boundary lines of that province, which 
was granted, and Parliament passed an act on June 2, 1774, extend- 
ing the boundary so as to include the territory l}'ing within the present 
States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. 

In consequence of the liberal policy pursued by the British Govern- 
ment toward the French settlers in the West, they were disposed to favor 
that nation in the war which soon followed with the colonies ; but th& 
early alliance between France and America soon brought them to the side 
of the war for independence. 

In 1774, Gov. Dunmore, of Virginia, began to encourage emigration 
to the Western lands. He appointed magistrates at Fort Pitt under the- 
pretense that the fort was under the government of that commonwealth. 
One of these justices, John Connelly, who possessed a tract of land in the 
Ohio Valle}', gathered a force of men and garrisoned the fort, calling it 
Fort Dunmore. This and other parties were formed to select sites for 
settlements, and often caaie in conflict with the Indians, who yet claimed 
portions of the valley, and several battles followed. These ended in the 
famous battle of Kanawha in July, where the Indians were defeated and 
driven across the Ohio. 

During the years 1775 and 1776, by the operations of land companies- 
and the perseveranceof individuals, several settlements were firmly estab- 
lished between the Alleghanies and the Ohio River, and western land 
speculators were busy in Illinois and on the Wabash. At a council held 
in Kaskaskia on July 5, 1773, an association of English traders, calling^ 
themselves the " Illinois Land Company," obtained from ten chiefs of the 
Kaskaskia, Cahokia and Peoria tribes two large tracts of land lying on 
the east side of the Mississippi River south of the Illinois. In 1775, a mer- 
chant from the Illinois Country, named Viviat, came to Post Vincennes. 
as the agent of the association called the " Wabash Land Company." On 
the 8th of October he obtained from eleven Piankeshaw chiefs, a deed for 
37,497,600 acres of land. This deed was signed by the grantors, attested 
by a number of the inhabitants of Vincennes, and afterward recorded in 
the office of a notary public at Kaskaskia. This and other land com- 
panies had extensive schemes for the colonization of the West ; but all 
were frustrated by the breaking out of the Revolution. On the 20th of 
April, 1780, the two companies named consolidated under the name of the 
" United Illinois and Wabash Land Company." They afterward mada 



48 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

strenuous efforts to have these grants sanctioned by Congress, but all 
signally failed. 

When the War of the Revolution commenced, Kentucky was an unor- 
ganized country, though there were several settlements within her borders. 

In Hutchins' Topography of Virginia, it is stated tliat at that time 
■" Kaskaskia contained 80 houses, and nearly 1,000 white and black in- 
habitants — the whites being a little the more numerous. Cahokia con- 
tains 50 houses and 300 white inhabitants, and 80 negroes. There were 
€ast of the Mississippi River, about the j'ear 1771 " — when these observa- 
tions were made — " 300 white men capable of bearing arms, and 230 
negroes." 

From 1775 until the expedition of Clark, nothing is recorded and 
nothing known of these settlements, save what is contained in a leport 
made by a committee to Congress in June, 1778. From it the following 
extract is made : 

"Near the mouth of the River Kaskaskia, there is a village which 
appears to have contained nearly eighty families from the beginning of 
the late revolution. There are twelve families in a small village at la 
Prairie du Rochers, and near fifty families at the Kahokia Village. There 
are also four or five families at Foi"t Chartres and St. Philips, which is five 
miles further up the river." 

St. Louis had been settled in February, 1764, and at this time con- 
tained, including its neighboring towns, over six hundred whites and one 
hundred and fifty negroes. It must be remembered that all the country 
west of the Mississippi was now under French rule, and remained so until 
<;eded again to Spain, its original owner, who afterwards sold it and the 
country including New Orleans to the United States. At Detroit there 
were, according to Capt. Carver, who was in the Northwest from 1766 to 
1768, more than one hundred houses, and the river was settled for more 
than twenty miles, although poorly cultivated — the people being engaged 
in the Indian trade. This old town has a history, which we will here 
relate. 

It is the oldest town in the Northwest, having been founded by 
Antoine de Lamotte Cadillac, in 1701. It was laid out in the form of an 
oblong square, of two acres in length, and an acre and a half in width. 
As described by A. D. Frazer, who first visited it and became a permanent 
resident of the place, in 1778, it comprised within its limits that space 
between Mr. Palmer's store (Conatit Block") and Capt. Perkins' house 
(near the Arsenal building), and extended back as far as the public barn, 
and was bordered in front by the Detroit River. It was surrounded by 
oak and cedar jnckets, about fifteen feet long, set in the ground, and had 
four gates — east, west, uorth and south. Over the first thi-ee of these 



THE NORTFTWEST TERRITORY. 49 

gates were block houses provided with four guns apiece, each a six- 
pounder. Two six-gun batteries were jalanted fronting the river and in a 
parallel direction with the block houses. There were four streets running 
east and west, the main street being twenty feet wide and the rest fifteen 
feet, while the four streets crossing these at right angles were from ten 
to fifteen feet in width. 

At the date spoken of by Mr. Frazer, there was no fort within the 
enclosure, but a citadel on the ground corresponding to the present 
northwest corner of Jefferson Avenue and Wayne Street. The citadel was 
inclosed by pickets, and within it were erected barracks of wood, two 
stories high, sufficient to contain ten officers, and also barracks sufficient 
to contain four hundred men, and a provision store built of brick. The 
citadel also contained a hospital and guard-house. The old town of 
Detroit, in 1778, contained about sixty houses, most of them one story, 
with a few a story and a half in height. They were all" of logs, some 
hewn and some round. There was one building of splendid ap^Dearance, 
called the " King's Palace," two stories high, which stood near the east 
gate. It was built for Governor Hamilton, the first governor commissioned 
by the British. There were two guard-houses, one near the west gate and 
the other near the Government House. Each of the guards consisted of 
twenty-four men and a subaltern, who mounted regularly every morning 
between nine and ten o'clock. Each furnished four sentinels, wlio were 
relieved every two hours. There was also an officer of the day, who p.r- 
formed strict dut\-. Each of the gates was shut regularly at sunset; 
even wicket gates were shut at nine o'clock, and all tlie keys were 
delivered into the hands of the commanding officer. They were opened 
in the morning at sunrise. No Indian or squaw was permitted to enter 
town with any weapon, such as a tomahawk or a kuife. It was a stand- 
ing order that the Indians should deliver their arms and instruments of 
every kind before they were permitted to pass the sentinel, and they were 
restored to them on their return. No more than twenty-five Indians were 
allowed to enter the town at any one time, and they were admitted only 
at the east and west gates. At sundown the drums beat, and all the 
Indians were required to leave town instantly. There was a council house 
near the water side for the purpose of holding council with the Indians. 
The population of the town was about sixty families, in all about two 
hundred males and one hundred females. This town was destroyed by 
fire, all except one dwelling, in 1805. After which the present '^ new" 
town was laid out. 

On the breaking out of the Revolution, the British held every post of 
importance in the West. Kentucky was formed as a component part of 
Virginia, and the sturdy pioneers of the West, alive to their interests, 



60 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

and recognizing the great benefits of obtaining the control of the trade in 
this part of the New World, held steadily to their purposes, and those 
within the commonwealth of Kentucky proceeded to exercise their 
civil privileges, by electing John Todd and Richard Gallaway, 
burgesses to represent them in the Assembly of the parent state. 
Early in September of that year (1777) the first court was held 
in Harrodsburg, and Col. Bowman, afterwards major, who had arrived 
in August, was made the commander of a militia organization which 
had been commenced the March previous. Thus the tree of loyalty 
was growing. The chief spirit in this far-out colony, who had represented 
her the year previous east of the mountains, was now meditating a move 
unequaled in its boldness. He had been watching the movements of the 
British throughout the Northwest, and understood their whole plan. He 
saw it was through their possession of the posts at Detroit, Viucennes, 
Kaskaskia, and other places, which would give them constant and easy 
access to the various Indian tribes in tiie Northwest, that the British 
intended to penetrate the country from the north and soutn, ana annihi- 
late the frontier fortresses. This moving, energetic man was Colonel, 
afterwards General, George Rogers Clark. He knew the Indians were not 
unanimously in accord with the English, and he was convinced that, could 
the British be defeated and expelled from the Northwest, the natives 
might be easily awed into neutrality ; and by spies sent for the purpose, 
he satisfied himself that the enterprise against the Illinois settlements 
might easily succeed. Having convinced himself of the certainty of the 
project, he repaired to the Capital of Virginia, which place he reached on 
November 5th. While he was on his way, fortunately, on October 17th, 
Burgoyne had been defeated, and the spirits of the colonists greatly 
encouraged thereby. Patrick Henry was Governor of Virginia, and at 
once entered heartily into Clark's plans. The same plan had before been 
agitated in tiie Colonial Assemblies, but there was no one until Clark 
came who was sufficiently acquainted with the condition of affairs at the 
scene of action to be able to guide them. 

Clark, having satisfied the Virginia leaders of the feasibility of his 
plan, received, on the 2d of January, two sets of instructions — one secret, 
the other open — the latter authorized him to proceed to enlist seven 
companies to go to Kentucky, subject to his orders, and to serve three 
months from their arrival in the West. The secret order authorized him 
to arm these troops, to procure his powder and lead of General Hand 
at Pittsburgh, and to procec^d at once to subjugate the country. 

With these instructions Clark repaired to Pittsburgh, choosing rather 
to raise his men west of the mountains, as he well knew all were needed 
in the colonies in the conflict there. He sent Col. W. B. Smith to Hoi- 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 51 

ston for the same purpose, but neither succeeded in raising the required 
number of men. The settlers in these parts were afraid to leave their 
own firesides exposed to a vigilant foe, and but few could be induced to 
join the proposed expedition. With three companies and several private 
volunteers, Clark at length commenced his descent of the Ohio, which he 
navigated as far as the Falls, where he took possession of and fortified 
Corn Island, a small island between the present Cities of Louisville, 
Kentucky, and New Albany, Indiana. Remains of this fortification may 
yet be found. At this place he appointed Col. Bowman to meet him 
with such recruits as had reached Kentucky by the southern route, and 
as many as could be spared from the station. Here he announced to 
the men their real destination. Having completed his arrangements, 
and chosen his party, he left a small gan-ison upon the island, and on the 
24th of June, during a total eclipse of the sun, which to them augured 
no good, and which fixes beyond dispute the date of starting, he with 
his chosen band, fell down the river. His plan was to go by water as 
far as Fort Massac or Massacre, and thence march direct to Kaskaskia. 
Here he intended to surprise the garrison, and after its capture go to 
Cahokia, then to Vincennes, and lastly to Detroit. Should he fail, he 
intended to march directly to the Mississij)pi River and cross it into the 
Spanish country. Before his start he received two good items of infor- 
mation : one that the alliance had been formed between France and the 
United States ; and the other that the Indians thi'oughout the Illinois 
country and the inhabitants, at the various frontier posts, had been led to 
believe by the British that the " Long Knives " or Virginians, were the 
most fierce, bloodthirsty and cruel savages that ever scalped a foe. With 
this impression on their minds, Clark saw that proper management would 
cause them to submit at once from fear, if surprised, and then from grati- 
tude would become friendly if treated with unexpected leniency. 

The march to Kaskaskia was accomplished through a hot July sun, 
and the town reached on the evening of July 4. He captured the fort 
near the village, and soon after the village itself by surprise, and without 
the loss of a single man or b}^ killing any of the enemy. After sufficiently 
working upon the fears of the natives, Clark told them they were at per- 
fect liberty to worship as they pleased, and to take whichever side of the 
great conflict they would, also he would protect them from any barbarity 
from British or Indian foe. This had the desired effect, and the inhab- 
itants, so unexpectedly and so gratefully surprised by the unlocked 
for turn of affairs, at once swore allegiance to the American arms, and 
when Clark desired to go to Cahokia on the 6th of July, they accom- 
panied him, and through their influence the inhabitants of the place 
surrendered, and gladly placed themselves under his protection. Thus 



52 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

the two important posts in Illinois passed from the hands of the English 
into the possession of Virginia. 

In the person of the priest at Kaskaskia, M. Gibault, Clark found a 
powerful ally and generous friend. Clark saw that, to retain possession 
of the Northwest and treat successfully with the Indians within its boun- 
daries, he must establish a government for the colonies he had taken. 
St. Vincent, the next important post to Detroit,remained yet to be taken 
before the Mississippi Valley was conquered. M. Gibault told him that 
he would alone, by persuasion, lead Vincennes to throw off its connection 
with England. Clark gladly accepted his offer, and on the 14th of July, 
in company with a fellow-townsman, M. Gibault started on his mission of 
peace, and on the 1st of August returned with the cheerful intelligence 
that the post on the " Oubache "' had taken the oath of allegiance to 
the Old Dominion. During this interval, Clark established his courts, 
placed garrisons at Kaskaskia and Cahokia, successfully re-enlisted his 
men, sent word to have a fort, which proved the germ of Louisville, 
erected at the Falls of the Ohio, and dispatched Mr. Rocheblave, who 
had been commander at Kaskaskia, as a prisoner of war to Richmond. 
In October the County of Illinois was established by the Legislature 
of Virginia, John Todd appointed Lieutenant Colonel and Civil Governor, 
and in November General Clark and his men received the thanks of 
the Old Dominion through their Legislature. 

In a speech a few days afterward, Clark made known fully to the 
natives his plans, and at its close all came forward and swore alle- 
giance to the Long Knives. While he was doing this Governor Hamilton, 
having made his various arrangements, had left Detroit and moved down 
the Wabash to Vincennes intending to ojjerate from that point in reducing 
the Illinois posts, and then proceed on down to Kentucky and drive the 
rebels from the West. Gen. Clark had, on the return of M. Gibault, 
dispatched Captain Helm, of Fauquier County, Virginia, with an attend- 
ant named Henrv, across the Illinois prairies to command the fort. 
Hamilton knew nothing of the capitulation of the post, and was greatly 
surprised on his arrival to be confronted by Capt. Helm, who, standing at 
the entrance of the fort by a loaded cannon ready to fire upon his assail- 
ants, demanded upon what terms Hamilton demanded possession of the 
fort. Being granted the rights of a prisoner of war, he surrendered to 
the British General, who could scarcely believe his eyes when he saw tha 
force in the garrison. 

Hamilton, not realizing the character of the men with whom he was 
contending, gave up his intended cam{)aign for the Winter, sent his four 
hundred Indian warriors to prevent troops from coming down the Ohio, 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 53 

and to annoy the Americans in all ways, and sat qnietly down to pass the 
Winter. Information of all these proceedings having reached Clark, he 
saw that immediate and decisive action was necessary, and that unless 
he captured Hamilton, Hamilton would capture him. Clark received the 
news on the 29th of .January, 1779, and on February 4th, having suffi- 
ciently garrisoned Kaskaskia and Cahokia, he sent down the Mississippi 
a " battoe," as Major Bowman writes it, in order to ascend the Ohio and 
Wabash, and operate with the land forces gathering for the fray. 

On the next day, Clark, with liis little force of one hundred and 
twenty men, set out for the post, and after incredible hard marching 
through mucii mud, the ground being thawed by the incessant spring 
rains, on the 22d readied the fort, and being joined by his " battoe," at 
once commenced the attack on the post. The aim of the American back- 
woodsman was unerring, and on the 24th the garrison surrendered to the 
intrepid boldness of Clark. The French were treated with great kind- 
ness, and gladly renewed their allegiance to Virginia. Hamilton was 
sent as a prisoner to Virginia, where he was kept in close confinement. 
During his command of the British frontier posts, he had offered prizes 
to the Indians for all the scalps of Americans they would bring to him, 
and had earned in consequence thereof the title " Hair-buyer General," 
by which he was ever afterward known. 

Detroit was now without doubt within easy reach of the enterprising 
Virginian, could he but raise the necessary force. Governor Henry being 
apprised of this, promised iiim the needed reinforcement, and Clark con- 
cluded to wait until he could capture and sufficiently garrison the posts. 
Had Clark failed in this bold undertaking, and Hamilton succeeded in 
uniting the western Indians for the next Spring's campaign, the West 
would indeed have been swept from the Mississippi to the Allegheny 
Mountains, and the great blow struck, which had been contemplated from 
the commencement, by the British. 

" But for this small army of dripping, but fearless Virginians, the 
union of all the tribes from Georgia to Maine against the colonies might 
have been effected, and the whole current of our history changed." 

At this time some fears were entertained Ijy the Colonial Govern- 
ments that the Indians in the North and Northwest were inclining to the 
British, and under the instructions of Washington, now Commander-in- 
Chief of the Colonial army, and so bravely fighting for American inde- 
pendence, armed forces were sent against the Six Nations, and upon the 
Ohio frontier, Col. Bowman, acting under the same general's orders, 
marched against Indians within the present limits of that State. These 
expeditions were in the main successful, and the Indians were compelled 
to sue for peace. 



64 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

During this same year (1779) the famous "Land Laws" of Virginia 
were passed. The passage of these laws was of more consequence to the 
pioneers of Kentucky and the Northwest than the gaining of a few Indian 
conflicts. These laws confirmed in main all grants made, and guaranteed 
to all actual settlers their rights and privileges. After providing for the 
settlers, the laws provided for selling the balance of the public lands at 
forty cents per acre. To carry the Land Laws into effect, the Legislature 
sent four Virginians westward to attend to the various claims, over many 
of which great confusion prevailed concerning their validity. These 
gentlemen opened their court on October 13, 1779, at St. Asaphs, and 
continued until April 26, 1780, when they adjourned, having decided 
three thousand claims. They were succeeded by the surveyor, who 
came in the person of Mr. George May, and assumed his duties on the 
10th day of the month whose name he bore. With the opening of the 
next year (1780) the troubles concerning the navigation of the Missis- 
sippi commenced. The Spanish Government exacted such measures in 
relation to its trade as to cause the overtures made to the United States 
to be rejected. The American Government considered they had a right 
to navigate its channel. To enforce their claims, a fort was erected below 
the mouth of the Ohio on the Kentucky side of the river. The settle- 
ments in Kentucky were being rapidly filled by emigrants. It was dur- 
ing this year that the first seminary of learning was established in the 
West in this joung and enterprising Commonwealth- 

The settlers here did not look upon the building of this fort in a 
friendly manner, as it aroused the hostility of the Indians. Spain had 
been friendly to the Colonies during their struggle for independence, 
and though for a while this friendship appeared in danger from the 
refusal of the free navigation of the river, yet it was finally settled to the 
satisfaction of both nations. 

Tlie Winter of 1779-80 was one of the most unusually severe ones 
ever experienced in the West. The Indians always referred to it as the 
"Great Cold." Numbers of wild animals perished, and not a few 
pioneers lost their lives. The following Summer a party of Canadians 
and Indians attacked St. Louis, and attempted to take possession of it 
in consequence of the friendly disposition of Spain to the revolting 
colonies. They met with such a determined resistance on the part of the 
inhabitants, even the women taking part in the battle, that they were 
compelled to abandon the contest. They also made an attack on the 
settlements in Kentucky, but, becoming alarmed in some unaccountable 
manner, they fled the country in great haste. 

About this time arose the question in the Colonial Congress con- 
cerning the western lands claimed by Virginia, New York, Massachusetts 



THE NORTHWEST TERKITORY. 55 

and Connecticut. The agitation concerning tliis subject finally led New 
York, on the 19th of February, 1780, to puss a law giving to the dele- 
gates of that State in Congress the power to cede her western lahds for 
the benefit of the United States. This law was laid before Congress 
during the next month, but no steps were taken concerning it until Sep- 
tember 6th, when a resolution passed that body calling upon the States 
claiming western lands to release their claims in favor of the whole body. 
This basis formed tlie union, and was the first after all of those legislative 
measures which resulted in the creation of the States of Ohio, Indiana, 
Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. In December of the same 
year, the plan of conquering Detroit again arose. The conquest might 
have easily been effected by Clark had the necessary aid been furnished 
him. Nothing decisive was done, yet the heads of the Government knew 
that tlie safety of the Northwest from British invasion lay in the capture 
and retention of that important post, the only unconquered one in the 
territory. 

Before the close of the year, Kentucky was divided into the Coun- 
ties of Lincoln, Fayette and Jefferson, and the act establishing the Town 
of Louisville was passed. This same year is also noted in the annals of 
American history as the year in which occurred Arnold's treason to the 
United States. 

Virginia, in accordance with the resolution of Congress, on the 2d 
day of January, 1781, agreed to yield her western lands to tlie United 
States upon certain conditions, which Congress would not accede to, and 
the Act of Cession, on the part of the Old Dominion, failed, nor was 
anything farther done until 1783. During all that time the Colonies 
were busily engaged in the struggle with the mother country, and in 
consequence thereof but little heed was given to the western settlements. 
Upon the 16th of Aj^ril, 1781, the first birth north of the Ohio River of 
American parentage occurred, being that of Maiy Heckewelder, daughter 
of the widely known Moravian missionary, whose band of Christian 
Indians suffered in after years a horrible massacre by the hands of the 
frontier settlers, who had been exasperated by the murder of several of 
their neighbors, and in their rage committed, without regard to humanity, 
a deed which forever afterwards cast a shade of shame upon their lives. 
For this and kindred outrages on the part of the whiles, the Indians 
committed many deeds of cruelty which darken the years of 1771 and 
1772 in the history of the Northwest. 

During the year 1782 a number of battles among the Indians and 
frontiersmen occurred, and between the Moravian Indians and the Wyan- 
dots. In these, horrible acts of cruelty were practised on the captives, 
many of such dark deeds transpiring under the leadership of the notorious 



56 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



frontier outlaw, Simon Girty, whose name, as well as those of his brothers, 
was a terror to women and children. These occurred chief!}' in the Ohio 
valleys. Coteraporary with them were several engagements in Kentucky, 
in which the famous Daniel Boone engaged, and who, often by his skill 
and knowledge of Indian warfare, saved the outposts from cruel destruc- 



-^ 




INDIANS Al"rACKIX»l FltoNTlKIiSMEN. 



tion. By the close of the year victory had perched upon the American 
banner, and on the 30th of November, provisional articles of peace had 
been arranged between the Commissioners of England and her uncon- 
querable colonies. Cornwallis had been defeated on the lOtii of October 
preceding, and the liberty of America was assured. On the liUii of 
April following, the anniver-sary of the battle of Lexington, peace was 



THE NORTHWEST TEEEITORY. 57 

proclaimed to tlie army of the United States, and on the Sd of the next 
September, the definite treaty which ended ouv revolutionary struggle 
was concluded. By the terms of that treaty, the boundaries of the West 
were as follows : On the north the line was to extend along the center of 
the Great Lakes ; from the western point of Lake Superior to Long Lake ; 
thence to the Lake of the Woods ; thence to the head of the Mississippi 
River; down its center to the 31st parallel of latitude, then on that line 
east to the head of the Appalachicola River ; down its center to its junc- 
tion with the Flint ; thence straight to the head of St. Mary's River, and 
thence down along its center to the Atlantic Ocean. 

Following the cessation of hostilities with England, several posts 
were still occupied by the British in the North and West. Among these 
was Detroit, still in the hands of the eneni}-. Numerous engagements 
with the Indians throughout Ohio and Indiana occurred, upon whose 
lands adventurous whites would settle ere the title had been acquired by 
the proper treaty. 

To remedy this latter evil. Congress apj^ointed commissioners to 
treat with the natives and purchase their lands, and prohibited the set- 
tlement of the territory until this could be done. Before the close of the 
year another attempt was made to capture Detroit, which was, however, 
not pushed, and Virginia, no longer feeling the interest in the Northwest 
she had formerly done, withdrew her troops, having on the 20th of 
December preceding authorized the whole of her possessions to be deeded 
to the United States. This was done on the 1st of March following, and 
the Northwest Territory passed from the control of the Old Dominion. 
To Gen. Clark and his soldiers, however, she gave a tract of one hundred 
and fifty thousand acres of land, to be situated any where north of the 
Ohio wherever they chose to locate them. They selected the region 
opposite the falls of the Ohio, where is now the dilapidated village of 
Clarksville, about midway between the Cities of New Albany and Jeffer- 
sonville, Indiana. 

While the frontier remained thus, and Gen. Haldimand at Detroit 
refused to evacuate alleging that he had no orders from his King to do 
so, settlers were rapidly gathering about the inland forts. In the Spring 
of 1784, Pittsburgh was regularly laid out, and from the journal of Arthur 
Lee, who passed through the town soon after on his way to the Indian 
council at Fort Mcintosh, we suppose it was not very prepossessing in 
appearance. He says : 

" Pittsburgh is inhabited almost entirely by Scots and Irish, who 
live in paltry log houses, and are as dirty as if in the north of Ireland or 
even Scotland. There is a great deal of trade carried on, the goods being 
bought at the vast expense of forty-five shillings per pound from Phila- 



68 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

delphia and Baltimore. They take in the shops flour, wheat, skins and 
money. There are in the town four attorneys, two doctors, and not a 
priest of uny persuasion, nor church nor cliapel." 

Kentucky at this time contained thirty thousand inhabitants, and 
was beginning to discuss measures for a separation from Virginia. A 
land oiBce was opened at Louisville, and measures were adopted to take 
defensive precaution against the Indians who were yet, in some instances, 
incited to deeds of violence by the British. Before the close of this year, 
1784, the military claimants of hmd began to occupy them, although no 
entries were recorded until 1787. 

The Indian title to the Northwest was not yet extinguished. They 
held large tracts of lands, and in order to prevent bloodshed Congress 
adopted means for treaties with the original owners and provided for the 
surveys of the lands gained thereby, as well as for those north of the 
Ohio, now in its possession. On January 31, 1786, a treaty was made 
with the Wabash Indians. The treaty of Fort Stanwix had been made 
in 1784. That at Fort Mcintosh in 1785, and through these much land 
was gained. The Wabash Indians, however, afterward refused to comply 
with the provisions of the treaty made with them, and in order to compel 
their adherence to its provisions, force was used. Daring the year 1786, 
the free navigation of the Mississippi came up in Congress, and caused 
various discussions, which resulted in no definite action, only serving to 
excite speculation in regard to the western lands. Congress had promised 
bounties of land to the soldiers of the Revolution, but owing to the 
unsettled condition of affairs along the Mississippi respecting its naviga- 
tion, and the trade of the Northwest, that body had, in 1783, declared 
its inability to fulfill these promises until a treaty could be concluded 
between the two Governments. Before tlie close of the year 17S(;, how- 
ever, it was able, through the treaties with the Indians, to allow some 
grants and the settlement thereon, and on the 14th of September Con- 
necticut ceded to the General Government the tract of land known as 
the "Connecticut Reserve," and before the close of the following j-ear a 
large tract of land north of the Ohio was sold to a company, who at once 
took measures to settle it. By the provisions of this grant, the company 
were to pay the United States one dollar per acre, subject to a deduction 
of one-third for bad lands and other contingencies. They received 
750,000 acres, bounded on the south by the Ohio, on the east by the 
seventh range of townships, on the west by the sixteenth range, and on 
the north by a line so drawn as to make the grant complete without 
the reservations. In addition totliis, Congress afterward granted 100,000 
acres to actual settlers, and 214,285 acres as army bounties under the 
resolutions of 1789 and 1790. 



THE NORTHWEST TEERITOEY. 



59 



While Dr. Cutler, one of the agents of the company, was pressing 
its claims before Congress, that body was bringing into form an ordinance 
for the political and social organization of this Territory. When the 
cession was made by Virginia, in 178-4, a plan was offered, but rejected. 
A motion had been made to strike from the proposed plan the prohibition 
of slavery, which prevailed. The plan was then discussed and altered, 
and finally passed unanimously, with the exception of South Carolina. 
By this proposition, the Territory was to have been divided into states 




'f^--'-C:^4^j..u- 



<^ SSvS--'^'^ ■ 



A PUAIKIE STUllM. 



by parallels and meridian lines. This, it was thought, would make ten 
states, which were to have been named as follows — beginning at the 
northwest corner and going southwardly : Sylvania, Michigania, Cher- 
'sonesus, Assenisipia, Metropotamia, Illenoia, Saratoga, Washington, Poly- 
potamia and Pelisipia. 

There was a more serious objection to this plan than its category of 
names, — the boundaries. The root of the difficulty was in the resolu- 
tion of Congress passed in October, 1780, which fixed the boundaries 
of the ceded lands to be from one hundred to one hundred and fifty miles 



60 TUK XvmSTHWKiSV TKU>UnU«Y< 

jjiwia ami Mu*saoh«*t>it!i, th»Y tl«x^»"tHl a oh«njiv. ami >u July. ITSrt, tho 
swWot was l«kt>« «i» »« OonjivtNss. autl ol»a»«jjtHl u> ftuwc a ilivijaou i«lo 
noi »mx*v xim\ tiv t> >>ut»»» aiul >u>t It^ss than iluvo, Tlu* w-as a{»)a\»\t>*l l\v 
ih<i> Sh^te l^gislauu-* of Yi^vii"*'*^ T^<* subjwi of th^ tJ«v««m»wU \v«s 
again tak^« \\\y l\v Cong»-t>ss in I'J^, a»ul vUsinissotl llu\»\»sl>««' 'l»«' y<^" 
a«tl xuuU J«l>\ IT^T. \vUo» x\\x> famous "i\M»j«uM of ITST" wass j^assip^l. 
ami tht> fo«»ulaUo»» oil'' th^ govw«m(?«t of tht> KwU»w«?»t laut This tHwn- 
j>aot U fvUly ^l^*lH^^sw\ ami »»\j>laiu^*l l« th»? lu*«o»\v of UluuMsiw thU lH»ok, 
ami to U iht» x^\*l*>r is »-«fti>v»tHl. 

Vh^ )><\ssas^ of this act ami th«? g»^«t to x\Mi> ^Vw R»>jilau*l Comj>a»>y 
\v»s so*>« follow^tl by an a^xlioatioti to \\w {^iyyvxxww'OM l»y Jv>l>« OWv*** 
Symmes, of Nt>\v Jtn'sw. foy a j»»-ant of ilu> la»ul lH>^\v»^«'« \\w M«a«us. 
Thi* jit^tttlt^man l>a*l Yisit«>*l tht^^io lamls s^mau aft»»»^ th»> t^vaty *xf lTSt>,a«d» 
Wing ^v*at)y {xleastnl with thorn. k>fft><vtl similar t«?»ms to thtvsv givou to th»? 
N^w Kuglanil Cowiv»«y, Tht* jin^tition was >vlV»w*l to tlm T>vas\iry 
B<»a»Al wiih j>^»wov to aot» a>ul a o^mti^^iH was oouoluvlvkl tho fv>Uowi«ii 
y^j\ CittWMg th^ ArttuTOM th^ *U«N»tors of x\\<c New Kujjlaml Oo»«j>any 
wt>y* jvi-^j>avi«^ to ownj\Y thwr j»vai>t tho t\xllo\vi»»^ Sj»ru\ij, ami uj^m thf 
aSd of J^ovt?mb*>v u»atlt> a»<-au^n»xe«ts fv«' a i»avty of t\>vty-*«'Vt>u ««<>n. 
wul^r tho s«}>ii?vi«t*>ml*?wey of G^n. KufV^s fwtnam. to st>t foiwa^^K S^s 
boat-lnuUl0t"s vvoxv to l»>av© at onop, ami ou tht> lu-st ^vf January th«> sur- 
\rt>yo»'* antl thu^iv assistants. twontV'^x in numln'r, wt^w to m«'«;»t at Haj-t- 
fo«\l and jm>v«>fd im xhi?xv jouvn*?y wvstwanl ; tin? »-*»maindt*r to fvJlow as 
$«kO)t as jxossiW^. Ooin^v^ss* in th** mt>ajvtin>t*. n|>on th» «Ul «,>f lVtoK>r. 
had onl«»»t>d ><»vpn hunvln^l t>x>ojvi for de f«:>ns*:i of tln^ wtvstt^ru settle»-s, and 
to |nt>\vwl unauthoriutHl intrusiixits ; and two dav-s lait^v aj>{H»>nt«Hl A»'(hu> 
St, Olair G^vwnor ol' the Tt>rritory *»f the Northwt»st. 

AMKKIOAX SKrrUKMKN IS, 

The oivil oi'^aniaation of tht> Northwtvsi IVrntory was now oou>- 
{dete^aml notwithstanding the uneertainty v>f Indian aft'ai*^. stMtUu-s t'>\>>n 
the Kast began to vH»tt»» into the oountyy rajxidly. The Kew K»»}rland 
Co»ni>any sent their mon duvinjj the Wintt^r of ITST-S mvssLinj;^ on over 
the Alleghenies l>y the old Indian t»ath whioh had bt>t»n oj^^mnl into 
Hravldvx^k's »-oad, and whioh has sinoe Wen made a national turni«ko 
JVvan CnmWrland w*stw»»xl. Thr\»ujjh the wvary wintt»r days they twletl 
o»», and by A)a'il weiv all gatht>»vd on thf \\>l»ioijany. wh«>»t> In^ats had 
l»«>e« builu and at onco staru'd «\u- the Mnskim^um. lUnv thoy arriv«>d 
ou> tho Tth of that mvMkth, ami unle«ts the Mm-avian missionaritN$ he rt^wled 
as the |»iv>neers of l>hio, this little luaml *?ai» justly olain> that ho»u>r. 



THB UOItTHWEST TKUHI'nmV. 



<>1 



Geii, St, Clair, the aij|»oiiit«<i Govenior of the Nojlltw^st, not h^iviug 
yet arrived, a set of lavfs were passeil, writteu out, and |>ul4ii:ihed by 
being nailed to a tree in the embryo town, and Jonatltan Meijjs ap{>ointed 
to itdniini.ster tliem, 

Wit«liingi<>n in writing of this, the first American settlenjent iu the 
Northwest, said ; " No colony in America was ever settled under 
such favcjrable allspices as tliat wliicli Itas just commenced at Muskinjfum. 
Information, property and strengtl* will be its cluiracteristics, I know 
many of its BettLers personally, and there never were men better caluu- 
bited to promote the welfare of such a community," 




I'lO.N'KHIi DWKI.I.IJii;. 



On the 2d of July a nieeiiiig of the directors and agents was Ijcld 
on the banks of the Muskingum, " for the purpose of naming the new- 
born city arid .its squares," As yet the settlement was known as the 
"Muskingum," but that was now changed Uj tlie name Marietta, in Iwnor 
of Marie Antoinette. The square upon which tlie block -houses stood 
was called "C'«/rt/>«« Marliun ;" »<juare jjumber 19, ^'' C'ajdt<dium ;" square 
number 61, '^C'emtia ;' and the great road through tljc coveit way, " H)uyra 
f^ia." Two days after, an oration was deliveied }<y James M. Varnum, 
who with K. If. Parsons and John Armstrong liad been appointed U) tl*e 
judicial bencii of the teniu^ry on the I'jth of (>cto))er, 1787. On July 9, 
Gov. Ht. Clair arrived, and the colony began U) assume form. The act 
of 1787 provided two district grades of government for th<; Northwest, 



62 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

under tlie first of wliich the whole power was invested in the hands of a 
governor and three district judges. This was immediately formed upon 
the Governoi's arrival, and the first laws of the colony passed on the 25th 
of July. These provided for the organization of the militia, and on the 
next da}- appeared the Governor's proclamation, erecting all that country 
that had been ceded by the Indians east of the Scioto River into the 
County of VVashington. From that time forward, notwithstanding the 
doubts 3'et existing as to tlie Indians, all Marietta prospered, and on tiie 
2d of September the first court of the territory was held with imposing 
ceremonies. 

The emigration westward at this time was very great. The com- 
mander at Fort Harmer, at the mouth of the Muskingum, reported four 
thousand five hundred persons as having passed that post between Feb- 
ruary and June, 1788 — many of whom would have purchased of the 
"Associates," as the New England Company was called, had they been 
ready to receive them. 

On the 26th of November, 1787, Symmes issued a pamphlet stating 
the terms of his contract and the plan of sale he intended to adopt. In 
January, 1788, Matthias Denman, of New Jersey, took an active interest 
in Symmes' purchase, and located among other tracts the sections ujion 
wliich Cincinnati lias been built. Retaining one-tbird of this locality, he 
sold the other two-thirds to Robert Patterson and John Filson, and the 
three, about August, commenced to la}- out a town on the spot, which 
was designated as being opposite Licking River, to the mouth of which 
they proposed to have a road cut from Lexington. The naming of the 
town is thus narrated in the "Western Annals "' : — " Mr. Filson, who had 
been a schoolmaster, was appointed to name the town, and, in respect to 
its situation, and as if with a prophetic jierception of the mixed race that 
were to inhabit it in after days, he named it Losantiville, which, being 
interpreted, means : ville, the town ; anti, against or opjtosite to ; o«, the 
mouth ; L. of Licking." 

Meanwhile, in July, Symmes got thirty persons and eight four-horse 
teams under way for the West. These reached Limestone (now Mays- 
ville) in September, where were several persons from Redstone. Here 
Mr. Symmes tried to found a settlement, lint the great freshet of 1789 
caused the " Point," as it was and is yet called, to be fifteen feet under 
water, and the settlement to be abandoned. The little band of settlers 
removed to the mouth of the Miami. Before Symmes and his colony left 
the " Point," two settlements had been made on his purchase. The first 
was by Mr. Stiltes, the original projector of the whole plan, who, with a 
colony of Redstone people, had located at the mouth of the Miami, 
whither Symmes went with his Maysville colony. Here a clearing had 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



63 



been made b}- the Indians owing to the great fertility of the soil. Mr. 
Stiltes with his colony came to this place on the 18th of November, 1788, 
with twenty-six persons, and, building a block-house, prepared to remain 
through the Winter. They named the settlement Columbia. Here they 
were kindly treated by the Indians, but suffered greatly from the flood 
of 1789. 

On the 4th of March, 1789, the Constitution of the United States 
went into operation, and on April 30, George Washington was inaug- 
urated President of the American people, and during the next Summer, 
an Indian war was commenced by the tribes north of the Ohio. The 
President at first used pacific means ; l)ut these failing, be sent General 
Harmer against the hostile tribes. He destroyed several villages, but 




BREAKING PRAIRIE. 



was defeated in two battles, near the present City of Fort Wayne, 
Indiana. From this time till the close of 1795, the principal events were 
the wars with the various Indian tribes. In 1796, General St. Clair 
was appointed in command, and marched against the Indians ; but while 
he was encamped on a stream, the St. Mary, a branch of the Maumee, 
he was attacked and defeated with the loss of six hundred men. 

General Wayne was now sent against the savages. In August, 1794, 
he met them near the rapids of the Maumee, and gained a complete 
victory. This success, followed by vigorous measures, compelled the 
Indians to sue for peace, and on the 30th of July, the following year, the 
treaty of Greenville was signed hy the principal chiefs, l)y which a large 
tract of country was ceded to the United States. 

Before proceeding in our narrative, we will pause to notice Fort 
Washington, erected in the early part of this war on the site of Cincinnati. 
Nearly all of the great cities of the Northwest, and indeed of the 



64 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

whole country, have had their Jiuclei in those rude pioneer structures, 
known as forts or stockades. Thus Forts Dearborn, Washington, Pon- 
chartrain, mark the original sites of the now proud Cities of Chicago, 
Cincinnati and Detroit. So of most of the flourishing cities east and west 
of the Mississijjpi. Fort Washington, erected by Doughty in 1790, was a 
rude but highly interesting structure. It was composed of a number of 
strongly-built hewed log cabins. Those designed for soldiers' barracks 
were a story and a half high, while those composing the oflScers quarters 
were more imposing and more conveniently arranged and furnished. 
The whole were so placed as to form a hollow square, enclosing about an 
acre of ground, with a block house at each of the four angles. 

The logs for the construction of this fort were cut from the ground 
upon which it was erected. It stood between Third and Fourth Streets 
of the present city (Cincinnati) extending east of Eastern Row, now 
Broadway, which was then a narrow alley, and the eastern boundar)* of 
of the town as it was oi'iginally laid out. On the bank of the river, 
immediately in front of the fort, was an appendage of the fort, called the 
Artificer's Yard. It contained about two acres of ground, enclosed by 
small contiguous buildings, occupied by workshops and quarters of 
laborers. Within this enclosure there was a large two-story frame house, 
familiarly called the " Yellow House," built for the accommodation of 
the Quartermaster General. For many years this was the best finished 
and most commodious edifice in the Queen City. Fort Washington was 
for some time the headquarters of both the civil and military governments 
of the Northwestern Territory. 

Following the consummation of the treaty various gigantic land spec- 
ulations were entered into by different persons, who hoped to obtain 
from the Indians in Michigan and northern Indiana, large tracts of lands. 
These were generally discovered in time to prevent the outrageous 
schemes from being carried out, and from involving the settlers in war. 
On October 27, 179.5, the treaty between the United States and Spain 
was signed, whereby the free navigation of the Mississippi was secured. 

No sooner had the treaty of 1795 been ratified than settlements began 
to pour rapidly into the West. The great event of the year 1796 was the 
occupation of that part of the Northwest including Michigan, which was 
this year, under the provisions of the treaty, evacuated by the British 
forces. The United States, owing to certain conditions, did not feel 
justified in addressing the authorities in Canada in relation to Detroit 
and other frontier posts. When at last the British authorities were 
called to give them up, they at once complied, and General Wa3'ne, wlio 
had done so much to preserve the frontier settlements, and who, before 
the year's close, sickened and died near Erie, transferred his head- 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 65 

quarters to the neighborhood of the hikes, where a county named after 
him was formed, which included the northwest of Ohio, all of Michigan, 
and the northeast of Indiana. During this same year settlements were 
formed at the present City of Chillicothe, along the Miami from Middle- 
town to Piqua, while in the more distant West, settlers and speculators 
began to appear in great numbers. In September, the City of Cleveland 
was laid out, and during the Summer and Autumn, Samuel Jackson and 
Jonathan Sharpless erected the first manufactory of paper — the " Red- 
stone Paper Mill" — in the West. St. Louis contained some seventy 
houses, and Detroit over three hundred, and along the river, contiguous 
to it, were more than three thousand inhabitants, mostly French Canadians, 
Indians and half-breeds, scarcely any Americans venturing yet into that 
part of the Northwest. 

The election of representatives for the territory had taken place, 
and on the 4th of February. 1799, they convened at Losantiville — now 
known as Cincinnati, having been named so by Gov. St. Clair, and 
considered the capital of the Territory — to nominate persons from whom 
the members of the Legislature were to be chosen in accordance with 
a previous ordinance. This nomination being made, the Assembly 
adjourned until the 16th of the following September. From those named 
the President selected as members of the council, Henr}' Vandenburg, 
of Vincenues, Robert Oliver, of Marietta, James Findlay and Jacob 
Burnett, of Cincinnati, and David Vance, of Vanceville. On the 16th 
of September the Territorial Legislature met, and on the 24th the two 
houses were duly organized, Henry Vandenbui-g being elected President 
of the Council. 

The message of Gov. St. Clair was addressed to the Legislature 
September 20th, and on October 13th that body elected as a delegate to 
Congress Gen. Wm. Henry Harrison, who received eleven of the votes 
cast, being a majority of one over his opponent, Arthur St. Clair, son of 
Gen. St. Clair. 

The whole number of acts passed at this session, and approved by 
the Governor, were thirty-seven — eleven others were passed, but received 
his veto. The most important of those passed related to the militia, to 
the administration, and to taxation. On the 19th of December this pro- 
tracted session of the first Legislature in the West was closed, and on the 
30th of December the President nominated Charles Willing Bryd to the 
office of Secretary of the Territory vice Wm. Henrj- Harrison, elected to 
Congress. The Senate confirmed his nomination the next day. 



66 THE NOKTHWEST TERRITORY. 



DIVISION OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

The increased emigration to the Northwest, the extent of the domain, 
and the inconvenient modes of travel, made it very difficult to conduct 
the ordinarv operations of government, and rendered the efficient action 
of courts almost impossible. To remedy this, it was deemed advisable to 
divide the territory for civil purposes. Congress, in 1800, appointed a 
committee to examine the question and report some means for its solution. 
This committee, on the 3d of March, reported that : 

" In the three western countries there has been but one court having 
cognizance of crimes, in five years, and the immunity which offenders 
experience attracts, as to an asylum, the most vile and abandoned crim- 
inals, and at the same time deters useful citizens from making settlements 
in such society. The extreme necessity of judiciary attention and assist- 
ance is experienced in civil as well as in criminal cases. * * * * Xo 
minister a remedy to these and other evils, it occurs to this committee 
that it is expedient that a division of said territory into two distinct and 
separate governments should be made ; and that such division be made 
by a line beginning at the mouth of the Great Miami River, running 
directly north until it intersects the boundary between the United States 
and Canada." 

The report was accepted by Congress, and, in accordance with its 
suggestions, that body passed an Act extinguishing the Northwest Terri- 
tory, which Act was approved May 7. Among its provisions were these : 

" That from and after July 4 next, all that part of the Territory of 
the United States northwest of the Ohio River, which lies to the westward 
of a line beginning at a point on the Ohio, opposite to the mouth of the 
Kentucky River, and running thence to Fort Recovery, and thence north 
until it shall intersect the territorial line between the United States and 
Canada, shall, for the purpose of temporary government, constitute a 
separate territory, and be called the Indiana Territor}'." 

After providing for the exercise of the civil and criminal powers of 
the territories, and other provisions, the Act further provides : 

" That until it shall otherwise be ordered by the Legislatures of the 
said Territories, respectively, Chillicothe on the Scioto River shall be the 
seat of government of tlie Territory nl' the United States nortliwcst of the 
Ohio River ; and that St. Vincennes on the Wabash River shall be the 
seat of government for the Indiana Territory." 

Gen. Wm. Henry Harrison was appointed Governor of the Indiana 
Territory, and entered upon his duties about a year later. Connecticut 
also about this time released her claims to the reserve, and in March a law 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 67 

was passed accepting this cession. Settlements had been made upon 
thirty-five of the townships in the reserve, mills had been built, and seven 
hundred miles of road cut in various directions. On the 3d of November 
the General Assembly met at Chillicothe. Near the close of the year, 
the first missionary of the Connecticut Reserve came, who found no 
township containing more than eleven families. It was upon the first of 
October that the seci-et treaty had been made between Napoleon and the 
King of Spain, whereby the latter agreed to cede to France the province 
of Louisiana. 

In January, 1802, the Assembly of the Northwestern Territory char- 
tered the college at Athens. From the earliest dawn of the western 
colonies, education was promptly provided for, and as early as 1787, 
newspapers were issued from Pittsburgh and Kentucky, and largely read 
throughout the frontier settlements. Before the close of this year, the 
Congress of the United States granted to the citizens of the Northwestern 
territory the formation of a State government. One of the provisions of 
the "compact of 1787" provided that whenever the number of inhabit- 
ants within prescribed limits exceeded 45,000, they should be entitled to 
a separate government. The prescribed limits of Ohio contained, from a 
census taken to ascertain the legality of the act, more than that number, 
and on the 30th of April, 1802, Congress passed the act defining its limits, 
and on the 29th of November the Constitution of the new State of Ohio, 
so named from the beautiful river forming its southern boundary, came 
into existence. The exact limits of Lake Michigan were not then known, 
but the territory now included within the State of Michigan was wholly 
within the territory of Indiana. 

Gen. Harrison, while residing at Vincennes, made several treaties 
with the Indians, thereby gaining large tracts of lands. The next year is 
memorable in the history of the West for the purchase of Louisiana from 
France by the United States for $15,000,000. Thus by a peaceful mode, 
the domain of the United States was extended over a large tract of 
country west of the Mississippi, and was for a time under the jurisdiction 
of the Northwest government, and, as has been mentioned in the early 
part of this narrative, was called the "New Northwest." The limits 
of this history will not allow a description of its territory. The same year 
large grants of land were obtained from the Indians, and the House of 
Representatives of the new State of Ohio signed a bill respecting the 
College Township in the district of Cincinnati. 

Before the close of the year. Gen. Harrison obtained additional 
grants of lands from the various Indian nations in Indiana and the present 
limits of Illinois, and on the 18th of August, 1804, completed a treaty at 
St. Louis, whereby over 51,000,000 acres of lands were obtained from the 



68 THE NORTHWEST TERKITOBV. 

aborigines. Measures were also taken to learn the condition of affairs in 
and about Detroit. 

C. Jouett, the Indian agent in Michigan, still a part of Indiana Terri- 
tory, reported as follows upon the condition of matters at that post : 

" The Town of Detroit. — The charter, which is for fifteen miles 
square, was granted in the time of Louis XIV. of France, and is now, 
from the best information I have been able to get, at Quebec. Of those 
two hundred and twenty-five acres, only four are occupied by the town 
and Fort Lenault. The remainder is a common, except twenty-four 
acres, which were added twenty years ago to a farm belonging to Wm. 
Macomb. * * * a stockade incloses the town, fort and citadel. The 
pickets, as well as the public houses, are in a state of gradual decay. The 
streets are narrow, straight and regular, and intersect each other at right 
angles. The houses are, for the most part, low and inelegant.'' 

During this year, Congress granted a township of land for the sup- 
port of a college, and began to offer inducements for settlers in these 
wilds, and the country now comprising the State of Michigan began to 
fill rapidly with settlers along its southern borders. This same year, also, 
a law was passed organizing the Southwest Territory, dividing it into two 
portions, the Territory of New Orleans, which city was made the seat of 
government, and the District of Louisiana, which was annexed to the 
domain of Gen. Harrison. 

On the 11th of January, 1805, the Territorj'of Michigan was formed, 
Wm. Hull was appointed governor, with headquarters at Detroit, the 
change to take effect on June 30. On the 11th of that month, a fire 
occurred at Detroit, which destroj'ed almost every building in the place. 
When the officers of the new territory reached tlie post, they found it in 
ruins, and the inhabitants scattered throughout the country. Rebuild- 
ing, however, soon commenced, and ere long the town contained more 
houses than before the fire, and many of them much better built. 

While this was being done, Indiana had passed to the second grade 
of government, and through her General Assembly had obtained large 
tracts of land from the Indian tribes. To all this the celebrated Indian, 
Tecumtlie or Tecumseh, vigorously protested, and it was the main cause 
of his attempts to unite the various Indian tribes in a conflict with the 
settlers. To obtain a full account of these attempts, the workings of the 
British, and the signal failure, culminating in the death of Tecumseh at 
the battle of the Thames, and the close of the war of 1812 in the Northwest, 
we will step aside in our story, and relate the principal events of his life, 
and his connection with this conflict. 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY, 



6w 




TECU3ISEH, THE SHAWANOE CHIEFTAIN. 



70 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY, 



TECUMSEH, AND THE WAR OF ISl?. 

This famous Indian chief was born about the A'ear 1768, not far from 
the site of the present City of Piqua, Ohio. His father, Puckesliinwa, 
was a member of the Kisopok tribe of the Swanoese nation, and his. 
mother, Methontaske, was a member of the Turtle tribe of the same 
people. They removed from Florida about the middle of the last century 
to the birthplace of Tecumseh. In 1774, his father, who had risen to be 
chief, was slain at the battle of Point Pleasant, and not long after Tecum- 
seh, by his bravery, became the leader of his tribe: In 1795 he was- 
declared chief, and then lived at Deer Creek, near the site of the 
present City of Urbana. He remained here about one year, when he 
returned to Piqua, and in 1798, he went to White River, Indiana. Irk 
1805, he and his brother, Laulewasikan (Open Door), wholiad announced 
himself as a prophet, went to a tract of land on the Wabash River, given 
them by the Pottawatomies and Kickapoos. From this date the chief 
comes into prominence. He was now about thirty-seven years of age, 
was five feet and ten inches in height, was stoutly built, and possessed of 
enormous powers of endurance. His countenance was naturally pleas- 
ing, and he was, in general, devoid of those savage attributes possessed 
by most Indians. It is stated he could read and write, and had a confi- 
dential secretary and adviser, named Billy Caldwell, a half-breed, who 
afterward became chief of the Pottawatomies. He occupied the first 
house built on the site of Chicago. At this time, Tecumseh entered 
upon the great work of his life. He had long objected to the grants of 
land made by the Indians to the whites, and determined to unite all the 
Indian tribes into a league, in order that no treaties or grants of land 
could be made save by the consent of this confederation. 

He traveled constantly, going from north to south ; from the south 
to the north, ever3'where urging the Indians to this step. He was a 
matchless orator, and his burning words had their effect. 

Gen. Harrison, then Governor of Indiana, by watching the move- 
ments of the Indians, became convinced that a grand conspiracy was 
forming, and made preparations to defend the settlements. Tecumseli's 
plan was similar to Pontiac's, elsewhere described, and to the cunning 
artifice of that chieftain was added his own sagacity. 

During the year 1809, Tecumseh and the prophet were actively pre- 
paring for the work. In that year, Gen. Harrison entered into a treaty 
with the Delawares, Kickapoos, Pottawatomies, Miamis, Eel River Indians 
and Weas, in wliich these tribes ceded to the whites certain lands upon 
the Wabash, to all of which Tecumseh entered a bitter protest, averrin^ 



THE NORTHWEST TEKRITOKY. 71 

as one principal reason that he did not want the Indians to give up any 
lands north and west of the Ohio River. 

Tecumseh, in August, 1810, visited the General at Vincennes and 
held a council relating to the grievances of the Indians. Becoming unduly- 
angry at this conference he was dismissed from the village, and soon after 
•departed to incite the southern Indian tribes to the conflict. 

Gen. Harrison determined to move upon the chief's headquarters at 
Tippecanoe, and for this purpose went about sixty-five miles up the 
Wabash, where he built Fort Harrison. From this place he went to the 
prophet's town, where he informed the Indians he had no hostile inten- 
tions, provided they were true to the existing treaties. He encamped 
near the village early in October, and on the morning of November 7, he 
was attacked bj^ a large force of the Indians, and the famous battle of 
Tippecanoe ooeurred. The Indians were routed and their town broken 
up. Tecumseh returning not long after, was greatly exasperated at his 
brother, the prophet, even threatening to kill him for rashly precipitating 
the war, and foiling his (Tecumseh's) plans. 

Tecumseh sent word to Gen. Harrison that he was now returned 
from the South, and was readj^ to visit the President as had at one time 
previously been proposed. Gen. Harrison informed him he could not go 
as a chief, which method Tecumseh desired, and the visit was never 
made. 

In June of the following year, he visited the Indian agent at 
Fort Wayne. Here he disavowed any intention to make a war against 
"the United States, and reproached Gen. Harrison for marching against his 
people. The agent replied to this ; Tecumseh listened with a cold indif- 
ference, and after making a few general remarks, with a haughty air drew 
his blanket about him, left the council house, and departed for Fort Mai- 
den, in Upper Canada, where he joined the British standard. 

. He remained under this Government, doing effective work for the 
'Crown while engaged in the war of 1812 which now opened. He was, 
however, always humane in his treatment of the pi'isoners, never allow- 
ing his warriors to ruthlessly mutilate the bodies of those slain, or wan- 
tonly murder the captive. 

In the Summer of 1813, Perry's victor}' on Lake Erie occurred, and 
•shortly after active preparations were made to capture Maiden. On the 
27th of September, the American army, under Gen. Harrison, set sail for 
the shores of Canada, and in a few hours stood around the ruins of Mal- 
-den, from which the British army, under Proctor, had retreated to Sand- 
wich, intending to make its way to the heart of Canada by the Valley of 
the Thames. On the 2yth Gen. Harrison was at Sandwich, and Gen. 
Mc Arthur took possession of Detroit and the territory of Michigan. 



72 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



On the 2d of October, the Americans began their pursuit of Proctor, 
whom they overtook on the 5th, and the battle of the Thames followed. 
Earl}' in the engagement, Tecumseh who was at the head of the column 
of Indians was slain, and they, no longer hearing the voice of their chief- 
tain, fled. The victory was decisive, and practically closed the war in 
the Northwest. 




INDIANS ATTACKINc; A STOCKADS. 



Just who killed the great chief has been a matter of much dispute ; 
but the weight of opinion awards the act to Col. Richard M. Johnson, 
who fired at him with a pistol, the shot proving fatal. 

In 1805 occurred Burr's Insurrection. He took possession of a 
beautiful island in the Ohio, after the killing of Hamilton, and is charged 
by many with attempting to set up an independent government. His 
plans were frustrated by the general government, his iiroi)erty confiscated 
and he was comi^elled to flee the country for safety. 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 78 

In January, 1807, Governor Hull, of Michigan Territory, made a 
treaty with the Indians, whereby all that peninsula was ceded to the 
United States. Before the close of the year, a stockade was built about 
Detroit. It was also during this year that Indiana and Illinois endeavored 
to obtain the repeal of that section of the compact of 1787, whereby 
slavery was excluded from the Northwest Territory. These attempts, 
however, all signally failed. 

In 1809 it was deemed advisable to divide the Indiana Territory. 
This was done, and the Territory of Illinois was formed from the western, 
part, the seat of government being fixed at Kaskaskia. The next year, 
the intentions of Tecumseh manifested themselves in open hostilities, and 
then began the events alread}- narrated. 

While this war was in progress, emigration to the West went on with 
surprising rapidity. In 1811, under Mr. Roosevelt of New York, the 
first steamboat trip was made on the Ohio, much to the astonishment of 
the natives, many of whom fled in terror at the appearance of the 
" monster." It arrived at Louisville on the 10th day of October. At the 
close of the first week of January, 1812, it arrived at Natchez, after being 
nearly overwhelmed in the great earthquake which occurred while on its 
downward trip. 

The battle of the Thames was fought on October 6, 1813. It 
effectually closed hostilities in the Northwest, although peace was not 
fully restored until July 22, 1814, when a treaty was formed at Green- 
ville, under the direction of General Harrison, between the United States 
and the Indian tribes, in which it was stipulated that the Indians should 
cease hostilities against the Americans if the war were continued. Such, 
happily, was not the case, and on the 24th of December the treaty 
of Ghent was signed by the representatives of England and the United 
States. This treaty was followed the next year by treaties with various 
Indian tribes throughout the West and Northwest, and quiet was again 
restored in this part of the new world. 

On the 18th of March, 1816, Pittsburgh was incorporated as a city. 
It then had a population of 8,000 people, and was already noted for its 
manufacturing interests. On April 19, Indiana Territory was allowed 
to form a state government. At that time there were thirteen counties 
organized, containing about sixty-three thousand inhabitants. The first 
election of state officers was held in August, when Jonathan Jennings 
was chosen Governor. The officers were sworn in on November 7, and 
on December 11, the State was formally admitted into the Union. For 
some time the seat of government was at Cor3-dou, but a more central 
location being desirable, the present capital, Indianapolis (City of Indiana), 
was laid out January 1, 1825. 



74 THE NORTHWEST TEREITORY. 

On the 28th of December the Bank of Illinois, at Shawneetown, was 
chartered, with a capital of $300,000. At this period all banks were 
under the control of the States, and were allowed to establish branches 
at different convenient points. 

Until this time Chillicothe and Cincinnati had in turn enjoyed the 
privileges of being the capital of Ohio. But the rapid settlement of the 
northern and eastern portions of the State demanded, as in Indiana, a 
more central location, and before the close of the year, the site of Col- 
umbus was selected and surveyed as the future capital of the State. 
Banking had begun in Ohio as early as 1808, when the first bank was 
chartered at Marietta, but here as elsewhere it did not bring to the state 
the hoped-for assistance. It and other banks were subsequently unable 
to redeem their cui-rency, and were obliged to suspend. 

In 1818, Illinois was made a state, and all the territor}- north of her 
northern limits was erected into a separate territory and joined to Mich- 
igan for judicial purposes. By the following year, navigation of the lakes 
was increasing with great rapidity and affording an immense source of 
revenue to the dwellei-s in the Northwest, but it was not until 1826 that 
the trade was extended to Lake Michigan, or that steamships began to 
navigate the bosom of that inland sea. 

Until the year 1832, the commencement of the Black Hawk War, 
but few hostilities were experienced with the Indians. Roads were 
opened, canals were dug, cities were built, common schools were estab- 
lished, universities were founded, many of which, especiall}' the Michigan 
University, have achieved a world wide-reputation. The people were 
becoming wealthy. The domains of the United States had been extended, 
and had the sons of the forest been treated with honesty and justice, the 
record of many years would have been that of peace and continuous pros- 
perity. ' 

BLACK HAWK AND THE BLACK HAWK WAR. 

This conflict, though confined to Illinois, is an important epoch in 
the Northwestern history, being the last war witli the Indians in this part 
of the United States. 

Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiah, or Black Hawk, was born in the j)rincipal 
Sac village, about three miles from the junction of Rock River with the 
Mississippi, in the year 1767. His father's name was Py-e-sa or Pahaes ; 
his grandfather's, Na-na-ma-kee, or the Thunderer. Black Hawk early 
distinguished himself as a warrior, and at the age of fifteen was permitted 
to paint and was ranked among the braves. About the year 1783, he 
Went on an expedition against the enemies of his nation, the Osages, one 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.- 



76 




BLACK HAWK, THE SAC CHIEFTAIN. 



76 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

of whom he killed and scalped, and for this deed of Indian bravery he was 
permitted to join in the scalp dance. Three or four years after he, at the 
head of two hundred braves, went on another expedition against the 
Osages, to avenge the murder of some women and children belonging to 
his own tribe. Meeting an equal number of Osage warriors, a fierce 
battle ensued, in which the latter tribe lost one-half their number. The 
Sacs lost only about nineteen warriors. He next attacked the Cherokees 
for a similar cause. 'In a severe battle with them, near the present City 
of St. Louis, his father was slain, and Black Hawk, taking possession of 
the " Medicine Bag," at once announced himself chief of the Sac nation. 
He had now conquered tlie Cherokees, and about the year 1800, at the 
liead of five hundred Sacs and Foxes, and a hundred lowas, he waged 
war against the Osage nation and subdued it. For two years he battled 
successfully with other Indian tribes, all of whom he conquered. 

Black Hawk does not at any time seem to have been friendly to 
the Americans. When on a visit to St. Louis to see his " Spanish 
Father," he declined to see any of the Americans, alleging, as a reason^ 
he did not want two fathers. 

The treaty at St. Louis was consummated in 1804. The next year the 
United States Government erected a fort near the head of the Des Moines 
Rapids, called Fort Edwards. This seemed to enrage Black Hawk, who 
at once determined to capture Fort Madison, standing on the west side of 
the Mississippi above the mouth of the Des Moines River. The fort was 
garrisoned by about fift}^ men. Here he was defeated. The difficulties 
with the British Government arose about this time, and the War of 1812 
followed. That government, extending aid to the Western Indians, by 
giving them arms and ammunition, induced them to remain hostile to the 
Americans. In August, 1812, Black Hawk, at the head of aiiout five 
hundred braves, started to join the British forces at Detroit, passing on 
his way the site of Chicago, where the famous Fort Dearborn Massacre 
hz^ a few days before occurred. Of his connection with the British 
Gcrernment but little is known. In 1813 he with his little band descended 
the Mississippi, and attacking some United States troops at Fort Howard 
was defeated. 

In the early part of 1815, the Indian tribes west of the Mississippi 
were notified that peace had been dechired between the United States 
and England, and nearly all hostilities had ceased. Bhiek Hawk did not 
sign any treaty, however, until May of the following year. He then recog- 
nized the validity of the treaty at St. Louis in 1804. From the time of 
signing this treaty in 1816, until the breaking out of the war in 1832, he 
and his band passed their time in the common pursuits of Indian life. 

Ten years before the commencement of this war, the Sac and Fox 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 7T 

Indians were urged to join the lowas on the west bank of the Father of 
Waters. All were agreed, save the band known as the British Band, of 
which Black Hawk was leader. He strenuously objected to the removal, 
and was induced to comply only after being threatened with the power of 
the Government. This and various actions on the part of the white set- 
tlers provoked Black Hawk and his band to attempt the capture of his- 
native village now occupied by the whites. The war followed. He and 
his actions were undoubtedly misunderstood, and had his wishes been 
acquiesced in at the beginning of the struggle, much bloodshed would 
have been prevented. 

Black Hawk was chief now of the Sac and Fox nations, and a noted 
warrior. He and his tribe inhabited a village on Rock River, nearly three 
miles above its confluence with the Mississippi, where the tribe had lived 
many generations. When that portion of Illinois was reserved to them, 
they remained in peaceable possession of their reservation, spending their 
time in the enjoyment of Indian life. The fine situation of their village 
and fhe quality of their lands incited the more lawless white settlers, who 
from time to time began to encroach upon the red men's domain. From 
one pretext to another, and from one step to another, the crafty white 
men. gained a foothold, until through whisky and artifice they obtained 
deeds from many of the Indians for their possessions. The Indians were 
finally induced to cross over the Father of Waters and locate among the 
lowas. Black Hawk was strenuously opposed to all this, but as the 
authorities of Illinois and the United States thought this the best move, he 
was forced to comply. Moreover other tribes joined the whites and urged 
the removal. Black Hawk would not agree to the terms of the treaty 
made with his nation for their lands, and as soon as the military, called to 
enforce his removal, had retired, he returned to the Illinois side of the 
river. A large force was at once raised and marched against him. On 
the evening of May 14, 1832, the first engagement occurred between a 
band from this army and Black Hawk's band, in which the former were 
defeated. 

This attack and its result aroused the whites. A large force of men 
was raised, and Gen. Scott hastened from the seaboard, by way of the 
lakes, with United States troops and artillery to aid in the subjugation of 
the Indians. On the 24th of June, Black Hawk, with 200 warriors, was 
repulsed by Major Demont between Rock River and Galena. The Ameri- 
can army continued to move up Rock River toward the main body of 
the Indians, and on the 21st of July came upon Black Hawk and his band» 
and defeated them near the Blue Mounds. 

Before this action. Gen. Henry, in command, sent word to the main 
army by whom he was immediately rejoined, and the whole crossed the 



78 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

Wisconsin in pursuit of Black Hawk and his band who were fleeing to the 
Mississippi. They were overtaken on the 2d of August, and in the battle 
which followed the power of the Indian chief was completely broken. He 
fled, but was seized by the Winnebagoes and delivered to the whites. 

On the 21st of September, 1832, Gen. Scott and Gov. Reynolds con- 
cluded a treaty with the Winnebagoes, Sacs and Foxes by which they 
ceded to the United States a vast tract of country, and agreed to remain 
peaceable with the whites. For the faithful performance of the provi- 
sions of this treaty on the part of the Indians, it was stipulated that 
Black Hawk, his two sons, the prophet Wabokieshiek, and six other chiefs 
of the hostile bands should be retained as hostages during the pleasure 
of the President. The}'' were confined at Fort Barracks and put in irons. 

The next Spring, by order of the Secretary of War, they were taken 
to Washington. From there they were removed to Fortress Monroe, 
"there to remain until the conduct of their nation was such as to justify 
their being set at liberty." They were retained here luitil the 4th of 
June, when the authorities directed them to be taken to the principal 
cities so that they might see the folly of contending against the white 
people. Everywhere they were observed by thousands, the name of the 
old chief being extensively known. By the middle of August they 
reached Fort Armstrong on Rock Island, where Black Hawk was soon 
after released to go to his countrymen. As he passed the site of his birth- 
place, now the home of the white man, he was deeply moved. His village 
where he was born, where he had so liappily lived, and where he had 
hoped to die, was now another's dwelling place, and he was a wanderer. 

On the next day after his release, he went at once to his tribe and 
his lodge. His wife was yet living, and with her he passed the remainder 
of his days. To his credit it may be said that Black Hawk always re- 
mained true to his wife, and served her with a devotion uncommon among 
the Indians, living with her upward of forty years. 

Black Hawk now passed his time hunting and fishing. A deep mel- 
ancholy had settled over him from which he could not be freed. At all 
times when he visited the whites he was received with marked atten- 
tion. He was an honored guest at the old settlers' reunion in Lee County, 
Illinois, at some of their meetings, and received many tokens of esteem. 
In September, 18-38, while on his way to Rock Island to receive his 
annuit)- from the Government, he contracted a severe cold wliich resulted 
in a fatal attack of bilious fever which terminated his life on October 3. 
His faithful wife, who was devotedly attached to him, mourned deeply 
during his sickness. After his death he was dressed in the uniform pre- 
sented to him by the President while in Washington. He was buried in 
a grave six feet in depth, situated upon a beautiful eminence. " The 



THE NORTHWEST TEIiniTORY. 79 

body was placed in the middle of the grave, in a sitting posture, upon a 
seat constructed for the purpose. On his left side, the cane, given him 
by Henry Clay, was placed upright, with his rigkt hand resting upon it. 
Many of the old warrior's trophies were placed in the grave, and some 
Indian garments, together with his favorite weapons." 

No sooner was the Clack Hawk war concluded than settlers began 
rapidly to pour into the northern parts of Illinois, and into Wisconsin, 
now free from Indian depredations. Chicago, from a trading post, had 
grown to a commercial center, and was rapidly coming into prominence. 
In 1835, the formation of a State Government in Michigan was discussed, 
but did not take active form until two years later, when the State became 
a part of the Federal Union. 

The main attraction to that portion of the Northwest lying west of 
Lake Michigan, now included in the State of Wisconsin, was its alluvial 
wealth. Copper ore was found about Lake Superior. For some time this 
region was attached to Michigan for judiciaiy purposes, but in 18.3*! was 
made a territory, then including Minnesota and Iowa. The latter State 
was detached two years later. In 1848, Wisconsin was admitted as a. 
State, Madison being made tlie capital. We have now traced the variouS' 
divisions of the Northwest Territory (save a little in Minnesota) from 
the time it was a unit comprising this vast territory, until circumstances, 
compelled its present division. 

OTHER INDIAN TROUBLES. 

Before leaving this part of the narrative, we will narrate briefly the 
Indian troubles in Minnesota and elsewhere by the Sioux Indians. 

In August, 1862, the Sioux Indians living on the western borders of 
Minnesota fell upon the unsuspecting settlers, and in a few hours mas- 
sacred ten or twelve hundred persons. A distressful panic was the 
immediate result, fully thirty thousand, persons fleeing from their homes- 
to districts supposed to be better protected. The military authorities 
at once took active measures to punish the savages, and a large number 
were killed and captured. About a year after, Little Crow, the chief, 
was killed by a Mr. Lampson near Scattered Lake. Of those captured, 
thirty were hung at Mankato, and the remainder, through fears of mob 
violence, were removed to Camp McClellan, on the outskirts of the City 
of Davenport. It was here that Big Eagle came into prominence and 
secured his release by the following order : 



80 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 




BIG EAGLE. 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. '81 

"Special Order, No. 430. "War Department, 

" Adjutant General's Office, Washington, Dec. 3, 1864. 

" Big Eagle, an Indian now in confinement at Davenport, Iowa, 
will, upon the receipt of this order, be immediately released from confine- 
ment and set at liberty. 

" By order of the President of the United States. 
" Official : " E. D. Townsend,' Ass't Adft Gen. 

" Capt. James Vanderventer, Com'y Sub. Vols. 

"Through Com'g Gen'l, Washington, D. C." 

Another Indian who figures more prominently than Big Eagle, and 
who was more cowardly in his nature, with his band of Modoc Indians, 
is noted in the annals of the New Northwest : we refer to Captain Jack. 
This distinguished Indian, noted for his cowardly murder of Gen. Canby, 
was a chief of a Modoc tribe of Indians inhabiting the border lands 
between California and Oregon. This region of country comprises what 
is known as the " Lava Beds," a tract of land described as utterly impene- 
trable, save by those savages who had made it their home. 

The Modocs are known as an exceedingly fierce and treacherous 
race. They had, according to their own traditions, resided here for many 
generations, and at one time were exceedingly numerous and powerful. 
A famine carried off nearly half their numbers, and disease, indolence 
and the vices of the white man liave reduced them to a poor, weak and 
insignificant tribe. 

Soon after the settlement of California and Oregon, complaints began 
to be heard of massacres of emigrant trains passing through the Modoc 
country. In 1847, an emigrant train, comprising eighteen souls, was en- 
tirely destroyed at a place since known as " Bloody Point." These occur- 
rences caused the United States Government to appoint a peace commission, 
who, after repeated attempts, in 1864, made a treaty with the Modocs, 
Snakes and Klamaths, in which it was agreed on their part to remove to 
a reservation set apart for them in the southern part of Oregon. 

With the exception of Captain Jack and a band of his followers, who 
remained at Clear Lake, about six miles from Klamath, all the Indians 
complied. The Modocs who went to the reservation were under chief 
Schonchin. Captain Jack remained at the lake without disturbance 
until 1869, when he was also induced to remove to the reservation. The 
Modocs and the Klamaths soon became involved in a quarrel, and Captain 
Jack and his band returned to the Lava Beds. 

Several attempts were made by the Indian Commissioners to induce 
them to return to the reservation, and finally becoming involved in a 



82 THE NORTHWEST TERKITORT. 

difficulty \vitli the commissioner and liis military escort, a fight ensued, 
in wliieh the chief and his band were routed. They were greatly enraged, 
and on their retreat, before the day closed, killed eleven inoffensive whites. 

The nation was aroused and immediate action demanded. A com- 
mission "was at once appointed by the Government to see what could be 
done. It comprised the following persons : Gen. E. R. S. Canby, Rev. 
Dr. E. Thomas, a leading ilethodist divine of California ; Mr. A. B. 
Meacham, Judge Rosborough, of California, and a Mr. Dyer, of Oregon. 
After several interviews, in which the savages were always aggressive, 
often appearing with scalps in their belts. Bogus Charley came to the 
commission on the evening of April 10, 1873, and informed them that 
Capt. Jack and his band would have a " talk " to-morrow at a place near 
Clear Lake, about three miles distant. Here the Commissioners, accom- 
panied by Charley, Riddle, the interpreter, and Boston Charley repaired. 
After the usual greeting the council proceedings commenced. On behalf 
of the Indians there were present : Capt. Jack, Black Jim, Schnac Nasty 
Jim, Ellen's Man, and Hooker Jim. They had no guns, but carried pis- 
tols. After short speeches by Mr. Meacham, Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas, 
Chief Schonchin arose to speak. He had scarcely proceeded when, 
as if by a preconcerted arrangement, Capt. Jack drew his pistol and shot 
Gen. Canby dead. In less than a minute a dozen shots were fired by the 
savages, and the massacre completed. Mr. Meacham was shot by Schon- 
chin, and Dr. Thomas by Boston Charley. Mr. Dyer barely escaped, being 
fired at twice. Riddle, the interpreter, and his squaw escaped. The 
troops rushed to the spot where they found Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas 
dead, and Mr. Meacham badly wounded. The savages had escaped to 
their impenetrable fastnesses and could not be pursued. 

The whole country was aroused by this brutal massacre ; but it was 
not until the following May that the murderers were brought to justice. 
At that time Boston Charley gave himself up, and offered to guide the 
troops to Capt. Jack's stronghold. This led to the capture of his entire 
gang, a number of whom were murdered b\' Oregon volunteers while on 
their way to trial. The remaining Indians were held as prisoners until 
July when their trial occurred, which led to the conviction of Capt. 
Jack, Schonchin, Boston Charley, Hooker Jim, Broncho, alias One-Eyed 
Jim, and Slotuck, who were sentenced to be hanged. These sentences 
were approved by the President, save in the case of Slotuck and Broncho 
whose sentences were commuted to imprisonment for life. Tiie others 
were executed at Fort Klamath, October 3, 1873. 

These closed the Indian troubles for a time in the Northwest, and for 
several years the borders of civilization remained in peace. They were 
again involved in a conflict witli tlie savages about the country of the 



4 



THE NORTHWEST TERBITORY. 



88 




CAPTAIN JACK, THE MODOC CHIEFTAIN. 



Si THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

Black Hills, in which war the gallant Gen. Custer lost his life. Just 
BOW the borders of Oregon and California are again in fear of hostilities ; 
but as the Government has learned how to deal with the Indians, they 
will be of short duration. The red man is fast passing away before the 
march of the white man, and a few more generations will read of the 
Indians as one of the nations of the past. 

The Northwest abounds in memorable places. We have generally 
noticed them in the narrative, but our space forbids their description in 
detail, save of the most important places. Detroit, Cincinnati, Vincennes, 
Kaskaskia and their kindred towns have all been described. But ere we 
leave the narrative we will present our readers with an account of the 
Kinzie house, the old landmark of Chicago, and the discovery of the 
source of the Mississippi River, each of which may well find a place in 
the annals of the Northwest. 

Mr. John Kinzie, of the Kinzie house, represented in the illustra- 
tion, established a trading house at Fort Dearborn in 1804. The stockade 
had been erected the year previous, and named Fort Dearborn in honor 
of the Secretary of War. It had a block house at each of the two angles, 
on the southern side a sallyport, a covered way on the north side, that led 
down to the river, for the double purpose of providing means of escape, 
and of procuring water in the event of a siege. 

Fort Dearborn stood on the south bank of the Chicago River, about 
half a mile from its mouth. When Major Whistler built it, his soldiers 
hauled all the timber, for he had no oxen, and so economically did he 
work that tlie fort cost the Government only fifty dollars. For a while 
the garrison could get no grain, and Whistler and his men subsisted on 
acorns. Now Chicago is the greatest grain center in the world. 

Mr. Kinzie bought the hut of the first settler, Jean Baptiste Point au 
Sable, on the site of which he erected his mansion. Within an inclosure 
in front he planted some Lombard}- poplars, seen in the engraving, and in 
the rear he soon had a fine garden and growing orchard. 

In 1812 the Kinzie house and its surroundings became the theater 
of stirring events. The garrison of Fort Dearborn consisted of fifty-four 
men, imder the charge of Capt. Nathan Heald, assisted by Lieutenant 
I-enai T. Helm (son-in-law to Mrs. Kinzie), and Ensign Ronan. The 
surgeon was Dr. Voorhees. The only residents at the post at that time 
were the wives of Capt. Heald and Lieutenant Helm and a few of the 
soldiers, Mr. Kinzie and his family, and a few Canadian voyagers with their 
wives and children. The soldiers and Mr. Kinzie were on the most 
friendly terms with the Pottawatomies and the Winiiebagoes, the prin- 
cipal tribes around them, but they could not win them from their attach- 
ment to the British. 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



85 



After the battle of Tippecanoe it was observed that some of the lead- 
ing chiefs became sullen, for some of their people had perished in that 
conflict with American troops. 

One evening in Ajjril, 1812, Mr. Kinzie sat playing his violin and his 
•children were dancing to the music, when Mrs. Kinzie came rushing into 
the house pale with terror, and exclaiming, " The Indians ! the Indians ! " 
" What ? Where ? '" eagerly inquired Mr. Kinzie. " Up at Lee's, killing 
and scalping," answered the frightened mother, who, when the alarm was 
given, was attending Mi-s. Burns, a newly-made mother, living not far off. 




KTNZIE nousii. 

Mr. Kinzie and his family crossed the river in boats, and took refuge in 
the fort, to which place Mrs. Burns and her infant, not a day old, were 
conveyed in safety to the shelter of the guns of Fort Dearborn, and the 
rest of the white inhabitants fled. The Indians were a scalping party of 
Winnebagoes, who hovered around the fort some days, when they dis- 
appeared, and for several weeks the inhabitants were not disturbed by 
alarms. 

Chicago was then so deep in the wilderness, that the news of the 
declaration of war against Great Britain, made on the 19th of June, 1812, 
did not reach the commander of the garrison at Fort Dearborn till the 7th 
of August. Now the fast mail train will carry a man from New York to 
Chicago in twenty-seven hours, and such a declaration might be sent, 
every word, by the telegraph in less than the same number of minutes. 



Wfe .''Si'fc.^* 



I ' ■ i ' I ' ^ 




Zi 






THE irOETH"WEST TERRITORY. 



BT 



PRESENT CONDITION OF THE NORTHWEST 

Preceding chapters have brought us to the close of the Black Hawk 
•war, and we now turn to the contemplation of the growth and prosperity 
of the Northwest under the smile of peace and the blessings of our civili- 
zation. The pioneers of this region date events back to the deep snow 







f o^' ^'^^^r*ib?*iK^w£i* 



v4^^<:>e'^C>> '^ '<'M* 



A REPKKSENTATIVK PIONEER. 



cf 1831, no one arriving here since that date taking first honors. The 
inciting cause of the immigration which overflowed the prairies early in 
the '30s was the reports of the marvelous beauty and fertility of the 
legion distributed through the East by those who had participated in the 
Black Hawk campaign with Gen. Scott. Chicago and Milwaukee then 
liad a few hundred inhabitants, and Gurdon S. Hubbard's trail from the 
former city to Kaskaskia led almost through a wilderness. Vegetables 
and clothiug were largely distributed through the regions adjoining the 



88 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



lakes by steamers from the Ohio towns. There are men now living in 
Illinois who came to the state when barely an acre was in cultivation, 
and a man now prominent in the business circles of Chicago looked over 
the swampy, cheerless site of that metropolis in 1818 and went south- 
ward into civilization. Emigrants from Pennsylvania in 1830 left behind 




LINCOLX SIOXUMENT, SPKINGFIELD, ILLINOIS. 

them but one small railway in the coal regions, thirty miles in length, 
and made their way to the Northwest mostly with ox teams, finding iu 
Nortliern Illinois petty settlements scores of miles iipart, although the* 
southern portion of the state was fairly dotted with farms. The- 
water courses of the lakes and rivers furnished transportation to the 
second great army of immigrants, and about 1850 railroads were 
pushed to that extent that the crisis of 18-37 was precipitated upon us. 



THE NORTHWEST TEBRITOKT. 



89 



from the effects of which the Western country had not fully recovered 
at the outbreak of the war. Hostilities found the colonists of the prairies 
fully alive to the demands of the occasion, and the honor of recruiting 










o 
aj 

•A 

o 

o 



o 



the vast armies of tlie Union fell largely to Gov. Yates, of Illinois, and 
Gov. Morton, of Indiana. To recount the share of the glories of the 
campaign -svon tf czv Western troops is a needless task, except to 
mention the fact that Illinois g-ave co the nation the President who saved 



90 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITOKY. 



it, and sent ont at the head of one of its regiments tne general who led 
^ts armies to the final victor}' at Appomattox. The struggle, on the 




FAKM VIEW IN WINTER. 



whole, had a marked effect for the better on the new Northwest, gi dng 
it an impetus which twenty years of peace would not have produced. 
In a large degree this prosperity was an inflated one, and with the rest 
of the Union we have since been compelled to atone therefor hy four 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 93 

years of depression of values, of scarcity of employment, and loss of 
fortune. To a less degree, however, than the manufacturing or mining 
regions has the West suffered during the prolonged panic now so near its 
end. Agriculture, still the leading feature in our industries, has-been 
quite prosperous through all these dark years, and the farmers have 
cleared away many incumbrances resting over them from the period of 
fictitious values. The population has steadily increased, the arts and 
sciences are gaining a stronger foothold, the trade area of the region is 
becoming daily more extended, and we have been largely exempt from 
the financial calamities which have nearly wrecked communities on the 
seaboard dependent whollj- on foreign commerce or domestic manufacture. 

At the present period there are no great schemes broached for the 
Northwest, no propositions for government subsidies or national works 
of improvement, but the capital of the world is attracted hither for the 
purchase of our products or the expansion of our capacity for serving the 
nation at large. A new era is dawning as to transportation, and we bid 
fair to deal almost exclusively with the increasing and expanding lines 
of steel rail running througli every few miles of territory on the prairies. 
The lake marine will no doubt continue to be useful in the warmer 
season, and to serve as a regulator of freight rates ; but experienced 
navigators forecast the decay of the system in moving to the seaboard 
the enormous crops of the West. Within the past five j'ears it has 
become quite common to see direct sliipments to Europe and the West 
Indies going through from the second-class towns along the Mississippi 
and Missouri. 

As to popular education, the standard has of late risen very greatly, 
and our schools would be creditable to any section of the Union. 

More and more as the events of the war pass into obscurity will the 
fate of the Northwest be linked with that of the Southwest, and the 
next Congressional apportionment will give the valley of the Mississippi 
absolute control of the legislation of the nation, and do much toward 
securing the removal of tlie Federal capitol to some more central location. 

Our public men continue to wield the full share of influence pertain- 
ing to their rank in the national autonomy, and seem not to forget that 
for the past sixteen years they and their constituents have dictated the 
principles which should govern the country. 

In a work like this, destined to lie on the shelves of the library for 
generations, and not doomed to daily destruction like a newspaper, one 
can not indulge in the same glowing predictions, the sanguine statements 
of actualities that fill tlie columns of ephemeral publications. Time may 
bring grief to the pet projects of a writer, and explode castles erected on 
a pedestal of facts. Yet there are unmistakable indications before us of 



04 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 




LAKE r.i.ri 

The frontage of Lake Bluff Grounds on Lake Michigan, with one hundred and seventy feet of gradual ascent. 




'^^^^^•if^^*^ 



IIK^II BlUDCi:, LAKK ]!I,l"FI", LAKH COfXTY, ILLINOLS. 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 95 

the same radical change in our great Northwest which characterizes its- 
history for the past thirty years. Our domain has a sort of natural 
geographical border, save where it melts away to the southward in the 
cattle raising districts of the southwest. 

Our prime interest will for some years doubtless be the growth of 
the food of the world, in which branch it has already outstripped all 
competitors, and our great rival in this duty will naturally be the fertile- 
plains of Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado, to say nothing of the new 
empire so rapidly growing up in Texas. Over these regions there is a 
continued jDrogress in agriculture and in railway building, and we must 
look to our laurels. Intelligent observers of eyents are fully aware of 
the strides made in the way of shipments of fresh meats to Europe, 
many of these ocean cargoes being actually slaughtered in the West and 
transported on ice to the wharves of the seaboard cities. That this new 
enterprise will continue there is no reason to doubt. There are in 
Chicago several factories for the canning of prepared meats for European 
consumption, and the orders for this class of goods are already immense. 
English capital is becoming daily more and more dissatisfied with railway 
loans and investments, and is gradually seeking mammoth outlays in 
lands and live stock. The stock yards in Chicago, Indianapolis and East 
St. Louis are yearly increasing their facilities, and their plant steadily 
grows more valuable. Importations of blooded animals from the pi'O- 
gressive countries of Europe are destined to greatly improve the quality 
of our beef and mutton. Nowhere is there to be seen a more enticing 
display in this line than at our state and county fairs, and the interest 
in the matter is on the increase. 

To attempt to give statistics of our grain production for 1877 would 
be useless, so far have we surpassed ourselves in the quantity and 
quality of our product. We are too liable to forget that we are giving 
the world its first article of necessity — its food supply. An opportunity 
to learn this fact so it never can be forgotten was afforded at Chicago at 
the outbreak of the great panic of 187-3, when Canadian purchasers, 
fearing the prostration of business might bring about an anarchical conditioni 
of affairs, went to that city with coin in bulk and foreign drafts to secure 
their supplies in their own currency at first hands. It may be justly 
claimed by the agricultural community that their combined efforts gave 
the nation its first impetus toward a restoration of its crippled industries, 
and their labor brought the gold premium to a lower depth than the 
government was able to reach hy its most intense efforts of legislation, 
and compulsion. The hundreds of millions about to be disbursed for 
farm products have already, by the anticipation common to all commercial 



96 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITOBY. 



nations, set the wheels in motion, and will relieve us from the perils so 
long shadowing our efforts to return to a healthy tone. 

Manufacturing has attained in the chief cities a foothold which Ijids 
fair to render the Northwest independent of the outside world. Nearly 




Eh 
PS 

o 
c 

I? 



to 

CO 

O 



our whole region has a distribution of coal measures which will in time 
support the manufactures necessary to our comfort and prosperit3\ As 
to transportation, the chief factor in the jiroduction of ;dl articles excep*' 
food, no section is so magnificently- endowed, and our facilities are yearly 
increasing beyond those of any other region. 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY". 9T 

The period from a central point of the war to the outbreak of the 
panic was marked by a tremendous growth in our railway lines, but the 
depression of the times caused almost a total suspension of operations. 
Now that prosperity is returning to our stricken country we witness its- 
anticipation by the railroad interest in a series of projects, extensions, 
and leases which bid fair to largely increase our transportation facilities- 
The process of foreclosure and sale of incumbered lines is another matter 
to be considered. In the case of the Illinois Central road, which formerly 
transferred to other lines at Cairo the vast burden of freight destined for 
the Gulf region, we now see the incorporation of the tracks connecting- 
through to New Orleans, every mile co-operating in turning toward the 
northwestern metropolis the weight of the inter-state commerce of a 
thousand miles or more of fertile plantations. Three competing routes 
to Texas have established in Chicago their general freight and passenger 
agencies. Four or five lines compete for all Pacific freights to a point as 
as far as the interior of Nebraska. Half a dozen or more splendid bridge 
structures have been thrown across the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers by 
the railways. The Chicago and Northwestern line has become an aggre- 
gation of over two thousand miles of rail, and the Chicago, Milwaukee 
apd St. Paul is its close rival in extent and importance. The tliree lines 
running to Cairo via Vincennes form a through route for all traffic with 
the states to the southward. The chief projects now under discussion 
are the Chicago and Atlantic, which is to unite with lines now built to 
Charleston, and the Chicago and Canada Southern, which line will con- 
nect with all the various branches of that Canadian enterprise. Our 
latest new road is the Chicago and Lake Huron, formed of three lines, 
and entering the city from Valparaiso on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne 
and Chicago track. The trunk lines being mainly in operation, the 
progress made in the way of shortening tracks, making air-line branches, 
and running extensions does not show to the advantage it deserves, as 
this process is constantly adding new facilities to the established order 
of things. The panic reduced the price of steel to a point where the 
railways could hardly afford to use iron rails, and all our northwestern 
lines report large relays of Bessemer track. The immense crops now 
being moved have given a great rise to the value of railway stocks, and 
their transportation must result in heavy pecuniary advantages. 

Few are aware of the importance of the wholesale and jobbing trade 
of Chicago. One leading firm has since the panic sold $24,000,000 of 
dry goods in one year, and they now expect most confidently to add 
seventy per cent, to the figures of their last year's business. In boots 
and shoes and in clothing, twenty or more great firms from the east have 
placed here their distributing agents or theii" factories ; and in groceries 



98 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



Chicago supplies the entire Northwest at rates presenting advantages 
over New York. 

Chicago has stepped in between New York and the rural banks as a 
financial center, and scarcely a banking institution in the grain or cattle 
regions but keeps its reserve funds in the vaults of our commercial insti- 
tutions. Accumulating here throughout the spring and summer months, 
they are summoned home at pleasure to move the products of the 
prairies. This process greatly strengthens the northwest in its financial 
operations, leaving home capital to supplement local operations on 
behalf of home interests. 

It is impossible to forecast the destiny of this grand and growing 
section of the Union. Figures and predictions made at this date might 
seem ten years hence so ludicrously small as to excite only derision. 







.V-w'''* 






\ 



ILLINOIS. 

Length, 380 miles, mean width about 156 mUes. Area, 55,410 square 
miles, or 35,462,400 acres. Illinois, as regards its surface, constitutes a 
table-land at a var3ang elevation ranging between 350 and 800 feet above 
the sea level ; compf^sed of extensive and highly fertile prairies and plains. 
Much of the south (3"dsion of the State, especially the river-bottoms, are 
thickly wooded. The prairies, too, have oasis-like clumps of trees 
scattered here and there at intervals. The chief rivers irrigating the 
State are the Mississippi — dividing it from Iowa and Missouri — the Ohio 
(forming its south barrier), the Illinois, Wabash, Kaskaskia, and San- 
gamon, with their numerous affluents. The total extent of navigable 
streams is calculated at 4,000 miles. Small lakes are scattered over vari- 
ous parts of the State. Illinois is extremely prolific in minerals, chiefly 
coal, iron, copper, and zinc ores, sulphur and limestone. The coal-field 
alone is estimated to absorb a full third of the entire coal-deposit of North 
America. Climate tolerably equable and healthy ; the mean temperature 
standing at about 51° Fahrenheit As an agricultural region, Illinois takes 
a competitive rank with neighboring States, the cereals, fruits, and root- 
crops yielding plentiful returns ; in fact, as a grain-growing State, Illinois 
may be deemed, in proportion to her size, to possess a greater area of 
lands suitable for its production than any other State in the Union. Stock- 
raising is also largely carried on, while her manufacturing interests in 
regard of woolen fabrics, etc., are on a very extensive and yearly expand- 
incf scale. The lines of railroad in the State are amonsr the most exten- 
sive of the Union. Inland water-carriage is facilitated by a canal 
connecting the Illinois River with Lake Michigan, and thence with the 
St. Lawrence and Atlantic. Illinois is divided into 102 counties ; the 
chief towns being Chicago, Springfield (capital), Alton, Quincy, Peoria, 
Galena, Bloomington, Rock Island, Vandalia, etc. By the new Consti- 
tution, established in 1870, the State Legislature consists of 51 Senators, 
elected for four y^ars, and 153 Representatives, for two years ; which 
numbers were to be decennially increased thereafter to the number of 
six per every additional half-million of inhabitants. Religious and 
educational institutions are largely diffused throughout, and are in a very 
flourishing condition. Illinois has a State Lunatic and a Deaf and Dumb 
Asylum at Jacksonville ; a State Penitentiary at Joliet ; and a Home for 

(99) 



100 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



Soldiers' Orphans at Normal. On November 30, 1870, the public debt of 
the State was returned at $4,870,937, with a balance of $1,808,833 
unprovided for. At the same period the value of assessed and equalized 
property presented the following totals : assessed, $840,031,703 ; equal- 
ized $480,664,058. The name of Illinois, through nearly the whole of 
the eighteenth century, embraced most of the known regions north and 
west of Ohio. French colonists established themselves in 1673, at 
Cahokia and Kaskaskia, and the territory of which these settlements 
formed the nucleus was, in 1763, ceded to Great Britain in conjunction 
with Canada, and ultimately resigned to the United States in 1787. 
Illinois entered the Union as a State, December 3, 1818; and now sends- 
19 Representatives to Congress. Population, 2,539,891, in 1870. 




4 WESTERN DWELLING. 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. lUl 



INDIANA. 

The profile of Indiana forms a nearly exact parallelogram, occupy- 
ing one of tiie most fertile portions of the great Mississippi Valley. The 
greater extent of the surface embraced within its limits consists of gentle 
niidulatinns rising into hilly tracts toward the Ohio bottom. The chief 
rivers of the State are the Ohio and Wabash, with their numerous 
affluents. The soil is highly productive of the cereals and grasses — most 
particularly so in the valleys of the Ohio, Wabash, Whitewater, and 
White Rivers. The northeast and central portions are well timbered 
with virgin forests, and the west section is notably rich in coal, constitut- 
ing an offshoot of the great Illinois carboniferous field. Iron, copper, 
marble, slate, gypsum, and various clays are also abundant. From an 
agricultural point of view, the staple products are maize and wheat, with 
tlie otlier cereals in lesser yields ; and besides these, flax, hemp, sorghum, 
hops, etc., are extensively raised. Indiana is divided into 92 counties, 
and counts among her princijDal cities and towns, those of Indianapolis 
(the capital). Fort Wayne, Evansville, Terre Haute, Madison, Jefferson- 
ville, Columbus, Vineennes, South Bend, etc. The public institutions of 
tlic State are many and various, and on a scale of magnitude and 
efficiency commensupate with her important political and industrial status. 
Upward of two thousand miles of railroads permeate the State in all 
directions, and greatly conduce to the development of her expanding 
manufacturing interests. Statistics for the fiscal year terminating 
October 31, 1870, exhibited a total of receipts, $3,896,541 as against dis- 
bursements, $3,532,406, leaving a balance, $864,1.35 in favor of the State 
Treasury. The entire public debt, .January 5, 1871, $3,971,000. This 
State was first settled by Canadian voyageurs in 1702, who erected a fort 
at Vineennes ; in 1763 it passed into the hands of the English, and was 
by tlie latter ceded to the United States in 1783. From 1788 till 1791, 
an Indian ware fare prevailed. In 1800, all the region west and north of 
Ohio (then formed into a distinct territory) became merged in Indiana. 
In 1809, the present limits of the State were defined, Michigan and 
Illinois having previously been withdrawn. In 1811, Indiana was the 
theater of the Indian War of Teeumseh, ending with the decisive battle 
of Tippecanoe. In 1816 (December 11), Indiana became enrolled among 
the States of the American Union. In 1834, the State passed through a 
monetary crisis owing to its having become mixed up with railroad, 
'■anal, and other speculations on a gigantic scale, which ended, for the 
tune uenig, in a general collaiise of public credit, and consequent bank- 
ruptcy. Since that time, however, the greater number of the public 



.102 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

works which had brought about that imbroglio — especially the great 
Wabash and Erie Canal — have been completed, to the great benefit of 
the State, whose subsequent progress has year b}' year been marked by 
rapid strides in the paths of wealtli, commerce, and general social and 
political prosperity. The constitution now in force was adopted in 1851. 
Population, 1,680,637. 



I O W A.. 

In shape, Iowa presents an almost perfect parallelogram ; has a 
length, north to south, of about 300 miles, by a pretty even width of 208 
miles, and embraces an area of 55,045 square miles, or 35,228,800 acres. 
The surface of the State is generally undulating, rising toward the 
middle into an elevated plateau which forms the *' divide "' of the 
Missouri and Mississippi basins. Rolling prairies, especially in the south 
section, constitute a regnant feature, and the river bottoms, belted with 
woodlands, present a soil of the richest alluvion. Iowa is well watered ; 
the principal rivers being the Mississijjpi and Missouri, which form 
respectively its east and west limits, and the Cedar, Iowa, and Des 
Moines, affluents of the first named. Mineralogically, Iowa is important 
as occupying a section of the great Northwest coal field, to the extent of 
an area estimated at 25,000 square miles. Lead, copper, zinc, and iron, 
are also mined in considerable quantities. The soil is well adapted to 
the production of wheat, maize, and the other cereals : fruits, vegetables, 
and esculent roots ; maize, wheat, and oats forming the chief staples. 
Wine, tobacco, hops, and wax, are other noticeable items of the agricul- 
tural yield. Cattle-raising, too, is a branch of rural industry largely 
engaged in. The climate is healthy, although liable to extremes of heat 
and cold. The annual gross product of the various manufactures ci?,rried 
on in this State approximate, in round numbers, a sum of $20,000,000. 
Iowa has an immense railroad system, besides over 500 miles of water- 
communication by means of its navigable rivers. The State is politically 
divided into 99 counties, with the following centers of population : Des 
Moines (capital), Iowa City (former capital), Dubuque, Davenport, Bur- 
lington, Council Bluffs, Keokuk, Muscatine, and Cedar Rapids. The 
State institutions of Iowa — religious, scholastic, and philantliropic — are 
ori a par, as regards number and perfection of organization and operation, 
with those of her Northwest sister States, and education is especially 
well cared for. and largely diffused. Iowa formed a portion of the 
American territorial acquisitions from France, by the so-called Louisiana 
purchase in 1803, and was politically identified witli Louisiana till 1812, 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 103 

when it merged into the Missouri Territory; in 1834 it came under the 
Michigan organization, and, in 1836, under that of Wisconsin. Finally, 
after being constituted an independent Territory, it became a State of 
the Union, December 28, 1846. Population in 1860, 674,913 ; in 1870, 
1,191,792, and in 1875, 1,353,118. 



MICHIGAN. 

United area, 56,243 square miles, or 35,995,520 acres. Extent of the 
Upper and smaller Peninsula — length, 316 miles; breadth, fluctuating 
between 36 and 120 miles. The south division is 416 miles long, by from 
50 to 300 miles wide. Aggregate lake-shore line, 1,100 miles. The 
Upper, or North, Peninsula consists chiefly of an elevated plateau, 
expanding into the Porcupine mountain-system, attaining a maximum 
height of some 2,000 feet. Its shores along Lake Superior are eminently 
bold and picturesque, and its area is rich in minerals, its product of 
copper constituting an important source of industrj^ Both divisions are 
heavily wooded, and the South one, in addition, boasts of a deep, rich, 
loamy soil, throwing up excellent crops of cereals and other agricultural 
produce. The climate is generally mild and humid, though the Winter 
colds are severe. The chief staples of farm husbandry include the cereals, 
grasses, maple sugar, sorghum, tobacco, fruits, and dairy-stuffs. In 1870, 
the acres of land in farms were : improved, 5,096,939 ; unimproved 
woodland, 4,080,146 ; other unimproved land, 842,057. The cash value 
of land was $398,240,578 ; of farming implements and machinery, 
$13,711,979. In 1869, there were shipped from the Lake SujDerior ports, 
874,582 tons of iron ore, and 45,762 of smelted pig, along with 14,188 
tons of copper (ore and ingot). Coal is another article largely mined. 
Inland communication is provided for by an admirably organized railroad 
system, and by the St. Mary's Ship Canal, connecting Lakes Huron and ■ 
Superior. Michigan is politically divided into 78 counties ; its chief 
urban centers are Detroit, Lansing (capital), Ann Arbor, Marquette, 
Bay City, Niles, Ypsilanti, Grand Haven, etc. The Governor of the 
State is elected biennially. On November 30, 1870, the aggregate bonded 
debt of Michigan amounted to $2,385,028, and the assessed valuation of 
land to $266,929,278, representing an estimated cash value of $800,000,000. 
Education is largely diffused and most excellently conducted and pro- 
vided f(n'. The State University at Ann Arbor, the colleges of Detroit 
and Kalamazoo, the Albion Female College, the State Normal School at 
Ypsilanti, and the State Agricultural College at Lansing, are chief among 
the academic institutions. Michigan (a term of Chippeway origin, and 



104 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORy. 

signifj-ing " Great Lake ), was discovered and first settled by French 
Canadians, wlio, in 1670, founded Detroit, the pioneer of a series of trad- 
ing-posts on the Indian frontier. During the " Conspiracy of Pontiac," 
following the French loss of Canada, Michigan became the scene of a 
sanguinary struggle between the whites and aborigines. In 1796, it 
became annexed to the United States, which incorporated this region 
with the Northwest Territory, and then with Indiana Territory, till 1803, 
when it became territorially indejiendent. Michigan was the theater of 
warlike operations during the war of 1812 with Great Britain, and in 
1819 was authorized to be represented by one delegate in Congress ; in 
1837 she was admitted into the Union as a State, and in 1869 ratified the 
loth Amendment to the Federal Constitution. Poi)ulation, 1,184,059. 



WISCONSIN. 

It has a mean length of 260 miles, and a maximum breadth of. 215. 
Land area. 53,924 square miles, or 34.511,360 acres. Wisconsin lies at a 
considerable altitude above sea-level, and consists for the most part of an 
upland plateau, the surface of which is undulating and very generally 
diversified. Numerous local eminences called mounds are interspersed 
over the State, and the Lake Michigan coast-line is in many parts char- 
acterized by lofty escarped cliffs, even as on the west side the banks of 
the Mississippi form a series of high and picturesque bluffs. A group of 
islands known as The Apostles lie off the extreme north point of the 
State in Lake Superior, and the great estuary of Green Bay, running far 
inland, gives formation to a long, narrow peninsula between its waters 
and those of Lake Michigan. The river-sj'stem of Wisconsin has three 
outlets — those of Lake Superior, Green Bay, and the Mississippi, which 
latter stream forms the entire southwest frontier, widening at one point 
into the large watery expanse called Lake Pepin. Lake Superior receives 
the St. Louis, Burnt Wood, and Montreal Rivers ; Green Bay, the 
Menomouee, Peshtigo, Oconto, and Fox; while into the Mississippi 
empty the St. Croix, Chijjpewa, Black, Wisconsin, and Rock Rivers. 
The chief interior lakes are those of Winnebago, Horicon, and Court 
Oreilles, and smaller sheets of water stud a great part of the surface. 
The climate is healthful, with cold Winters and brief but very warm 
Summers. Mean annual rainfall 31 inches. The geological system 
represented b}' the State, embraces those rocks included between the 
primary and the Devonian series, the former containing extensive 
deposits of copper and iron ore. Besides these minerals, lead and zinc 
are found in great (][uantities, together with kaolin, plumbago, gypsum, 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 105 

and various cla3-s. Mining, consequently, forms a prominent industry, 
and one of 3-earl3' increasing dimensions. The soil of Wisconsin is of 
varying quality, but fertile on the whole, and in the north parts of the 
State heavily timbered. The agricultural yield comprises the cereals, 
together with flax, hemp, tobacco, pulse, sorguni, and all kinds of vege- 
tables, and of the hardier fruits. In 1870, the State had a total number 
of 102,904 farms, occupying 11,715,321 acres, of which 5,899,343 con- 
sisted of improved land, and 3,437,442 were timbered. Cash value of 
farms, #300,414,064 ; of farm implements and machinery, $14,239,364. 
Total estimated value of all farm products, including betterments and 
additions to stock, .$78,027,032 ; of orchard and dairy stuffs, $1,045,938 ; 
of lumber, •li;l,327,618 ; of home manufactures, $338,423 ; of all live-stock, 
$45,310,882. Number of manufacturing establishments, 7,136, employ- 
ing 39,055 hands, and turning out productions valued at $85,624,966. 
The political divisions of the State form 61 counties, and the chief places 
of wealth, trade, and pojjulation, are Madison (the capital), Milwaukee, 
Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Prairie du Chien, Janesville, Portage City, 
Racine, Kenosha, and La Crosse. In 1870, the total assessed valuation 
reached $333,209,838, as against a true valuation of both real and personal 
estate aggregating $602,207,829. Treasury receipts during 1870, $886,- 
696 ; disbursements, $906,329. Value of church property, $4,749,983. 
Education is amply provided for. Independently of the State University 
at Madison, and those of Galesville and of Lawrence at Appleton, and 
the colleges of Beloit, Racine, and Milton, there are Normal Schools at 
Platteville and Whitewater. The State is divided into 4,802 common 
school districts, maintained at a cost, in 1870, of $2,094,160. The chari- 
table institutions of Wisconsin include a Deaf and Dumb Asylum, an 
Institute for the Education of the Blind, and a Soldiers' Orphans' School. 
In January, 1870, the railroad system ramified throughout the State 
totalized 2,779 miles of track, including several lines far advanced toward 
completion. Immigration is successfully encouraged b}' the State author- 
ities, the larger number qf yearly new-comers being of Scandinavian and 
Gei-man origin. The territory now occupied within the limits of the 
State of Wisconsin was explored by French missionaries and traders in 
1639, and it remained under French jurisdiction until 1703, when it 
became annexed to the British North American possessions. In 1796, it 
reverted to the United States, the government of which latter admitted 
it within the limits of the Northwest Territory, and in 1809, attached it 
to that of Illinois, and to Michigan in 1818. Wisconsin became independ- 
ently territorially organized in 1836, and became a State of the Union, 
March 3, 1847. Population in 1870, l,0ii4,985, of which 2,113 Were of 
the colored race, and 11,521 Indians, 1,206 of the latter being out of 
tribal relations. 



106 THE NORTHWEST TERB,ITORY. 



MINNESOTA, 



Its leugtli, north to south, embraces an extent of 380 miles; its 
breadth one of 250 miles at a maximum. Area, 84,000 square miles, or 
54,760,000 acres. The surface of Minnesota, generall\' speaking, con- 
sists of a succession of gently undulating jjlains and prairies, drained by 
an admirable water-system, and with here and there heavily- timbered 
bottoms and belts of virgin forest. The soil, corresponding with such a 
superfices, is exceptionally rich, consisting for the most part of a dark, 
calcareous sandy drift intermixed with loam. A distiuguishing i)iiysical 
feature of this State is its riverine ramifications, expanding in nearly 
every part of it into almost innumerable lakes — the whole presenting an 
aggregate of water-power having hardly a rival in the Union. Besides 
the Mississippi — which here has its rise, and drains a basin of 800 miles 
of country — the principal streams are the Minnesota (384 miles long), 
the Red River of the North, the St. Croix, St. Louis, and many others of 
lesser importance : the chief lakes are those called Red, Cass, Leech, 
Mille Lacs, Vermillion, and Winibigosh Quite a concatenation of sheets 
of water fringe the frontier line where Minnesota joins British America, 
culminating in the Lake of the Woods. It has been estimated, that of 
an area of 1,200,000 acres of surface between the St. Croix and Mis- 
sissippi Rivers, not less than 73,000 acres are of lacustrine formation. In 
point of minerals, the resources of Minnesota have as yet been very 
imperfectly developed; iron, copper, coal, lead — all these are known to 
exist in considerable deposits ; together with salt, limestone, and potter's 
clay. The agricultural outlook of the State is in a high degree satis- 
factory ; wheat constitutes the leading cereal in cultivation, with Indian 
corn and oats in next order. Fruits and vegetables are grown in great 
plenty and of excellent quality. The lumber resources of Minnesota are 
important ; the pine forests in the north region alone occupying an area 
of some 21,000 square miles, which in 1870 produced a return of scaled 
logs amounting to 313.116,416 feet. The natural industrial advantages 
possessed by Minnesota are largely improved upon by a railroad system. 
The political divisions of this State numl)er 78 counties; of which tlie 
chief cities and towns are: St. Paul (the capital), Stillwater, Red Wing, 
St. Anthony, Fort Sneiling, Minneapolis, and Mankato. Minnesota has 
already assumed an attitude of Jiigh importance as a nuinufacturing State ; 
this is mainly due to the wonderful command of water-power she pos- 
sesses, as befoi-e spoken of. Besides her timber-trade, the milling of 
flour, the distillation of whisky, and the tanning of leather, are prominent 
interests, whicli, in 186U, gave returns to the anuiunt of ^14,831,043. 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 107 

Education is notably provided for on a broad and catholic scale, the 
entire amount expended scholastically during the year 1870 being $857,- 
816 ; while on November 30 of the preceding year the permanent school 
fund stood at #2,476,222. Besides a University and Agricultural College, 
Normal and Reform Schools flourish, and with these may be mentioned 
such various philanthropic and religious institutions as befit the needs of 
an intelligent and prosperous community. The finances of the State for 
the fiscal year terminating December 1, 1870, exhibited a balance on the 
right side to the amount of $136,164, being a gain of •'144,000 over the 
previous year's figures. The earliest exploration of Minnesota by the 
whites was made in 1680 by a French Franciscan, Father Hennepin, who 
gave the name of St. Antony to the Great Falls on the Upper Missisippi. 
In 1763, the Treaty of Versailles ceded this region to England. 
Twenty years later, Minnesota formed part of the Northwest Territory 
transferred to the United States, and became herself territorialized inde- 
pendently in 1849. Indian cessions in 1851 enlarged her boundaries, and. 
Ma}- 11, 1857, Minnesota became a unit of the great American federation 
of States. Population, 439,706. 



NEBRASKA. 

Maximum length, 412 miles ; extreme breadth, 208 miles. Area, 
75,905 square miles, or 48,636,800 acres. The surface of this State is 
almost entirely undulating prairie, and forms part of the west slope of 
the great central basin of the North American Continent. In its west 
division, near the base of the Rocky Mountains, is a sandy belt of 
country, irregularly defined. In this part, too, are the " dunes," resem- 
bling a wavy sea of sandy billows, as well as the Mauvaises Teires. a tract 
of singular formation, produced by eccentric disintegrations and denuda- 
tions of the land. The chief rivers are the Missouri, constituting its en- 
tire east line of demarcation ; the Nebraska or Platte, the Niobrara, the 
Republican Fork of the Kansas, the Elkhorn, and the Loup Fork of the 
Platte. The soil is very various, but consisting chiefly of rich, bottomy 
loam, admirably adapted to the raising of heavy crops of cereals. All 
the vegetables and fruits of the temperate zone are produced in great 
size and plenty. For grazing purposes Nebraska is a State exceptionally 
well fitted, a region of not less than 23,000,000 acres being adaptable to 
this In-anch of husbandry. It is believed that the, as yet, comparatively 
infertile tracts of land found in various parts of the State are susceptible 
of productivity by means of a properly conducted system of irrigation. 
Few minerals of moment have so far been found within the limits of 



108 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



Nebraska, if we may excejit iniportunt saline deposits at the head of Salt 
Creek in its southeast section. The State is divided into 57 counties, 
independent of the Pawnee and Winnebago Indians, and of unoi'ganized 
territory in the northwest part. The principal towns are Omaha, Lincoln 
(State capital), Nebraska City, Columbus, Grand Island, etc. In 1870, 
the total assessed value of property amounted to $53,000,000. being an 
increase of $11,000,000 over the previous year's returns. The total 
amount received from the school-fund during the year 1869-70 was 
$77,999. Education is making great onward strides, the State University 
and an Agricultural College being far advanced toward completion. In 
the matter of railroad communication, Nebraska bids fair to soon place 
herself on a par with her neighbors to the east. Besides being inter- 
sected by the Union Pacific line, with its off-shoot, the Fremont and Blair, 
other tracks are in course of rapid construction. Organized by Con- 
gressional Act into a Territory, May 30, 1854:, Nebraska entered the 
Union as a full State, March 1, 1867. Population, 122,993. 




I 



■|:.\1R1E WOLVES l.V AN KAltl.V DAY. 



Early History of Illinois. 



The name of this beautiful Prairie State is derived from Illini, a 
Delaware word signifying Superior Men. It has a French termination, 
and is a symbol of how the two races — the French and the Indians — 
were intermixed during the early history of the country. 

The appellation was no doubt well applied to the primitive inhabit- 
ants of the soil whose prowess in savage warfare long withstood the 
combined attacks of the fierce Iroquois on the one side, and the no less 
savage and relentless Sacs and Foxes on the other. The Illinois were 
once a powerful confederacy, occupying the most beautiful and fertile 
region in the gTeat Valley of the Mississippi, which their enemies coveted 
and struggled long and hard to wrest from them. By the fortunes of 
war they were diminished in numbers, and finally destroyed. " Starved 
Rock," on the Illinois River, according to tradition, commemorates their 
last tragedy, where, it is said, the entire tribe starved rather than sur- 
render. 

EARLY DISCOVERIES. 

The first European discoveries in Illinois date back over two hun- 
dred years. They are a part of that movement which, from the begin- 
ning to the middle of the seventeenth century, brought the French 
Canadian missionaries and fur traders into the Valley of the Mississippi, 
and which, at a later period, established the civil and ecclesiastical 
authority of France from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico, 
and from the foot-hills of the Alleghanies to the Rocky Mountains. 

The great river of the West had been discovered by DeSoto, the 
Spanish conqueror of Florida, three quarters of a century before the 
French founded Quebec in 1608, but the Spanish left the country a wil- 
derness, without further exploration or settlement within its borders, in 
which condition it remained until the Mississijipi was discovered by the 
agents of the French Canadian government, Joliet and Marquette, in 1673. 
These renowned explorers were not the first white visitors to Illinois. 
In 1671 — two years in advance of them — came Nicholas Perrot to Chicago. 
He had been sent by Talon as an agent of the Canadian government to 

log 



110 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 




n 

D 

J 
-1 







HISTORY OP THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 



Ill 



call a great peace convention of Western Indians at Green Bay, prepara- 
tory to the movement for the discovery of the Mississippi. It was 
deemed a good stroke of policy to secure, as far as j^ossible, the friend- 
ship and co-operation of the Indians, far and near, before venturing upon 
an enterprise which their hostility might render disastrous, and which 
their friendship and assistance would do so much to make successful ; 
and to this end Perrot was sent to call together in council the tribes 
throughout the Northwest, and to promise them the commerce and pro- 
tection of the French government. He accordingly arrived at Green 
Bay in 1671, and procuring an escort of Pottawattamies, proceeded in a 
bark canoe upon a visit to the Miamis, at Chicago. Perrot was there- 
fore the first European to set foot upon the soil of Illinois. 

Still there were others before Marquette. In 1672, the Jesuit mis- 
sionaries. Fathers Claude Allouez and Claude Dablon, bore the standard 
of the Cross from their mission at Green Bay through western Wisconsin 
and northern Illinois, visiting the Foxes on Fox River, and the Masquo- 
tines and Kickapoos at the mouth of the Milwaukee. These missionaries 
penetrated on the route afterwards followed by Marquette as far as the 
Kickapoo village at the head of Lake Winnebago, where Marquette, in 
his journey, secured guides across the portage to the Wisconsin. 

The oft-repeated story of Marquette and Joliet is well known. 
They were the agents employed by the Canadian government to discover 
the Mississippi. Marquette was a native of France, born in 1637, a 
Jesuit priest by education, and a man of sira[)le faith and of great zeal and 
devotion in extending the Roman Catliolic religion among the Indians. 
Arriving in Canada in 1666, he was sent as a missionary to the far 
Northwest, and, in 1668, founded a mission at Sault Ste. Marie. The 
following year he moved to La Pointe, in Lake Superior, where he 
instructed a branch of the Hurons till 1670, when he removed south, and 
founded the mission at St. Ignace, on the Straits of Mackinaw. Here 
he remained, devoting a portion of his time to the study of the Illinois 
language under a native teacher who had accompanied him to the mission 
from La Pointe, till he was joined by Joliet in the Spring of 1673. By 
the way of Green Bay and the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, they entered 
the Mississippi, which they explored to the mouth of the Arkansas, and 
returned by the way of the Illinois and Chicago Rivers to Lake Michigan. 

On his way up the Illinois, Marquette visited the great village of 
the Kaskaskias, near what is now Utica, in the county of LaSalle. Tlie 
following year he returned and established among them the mission of 
the Immaculate Virgin Mary, which was the first Jesuit mission founded 
in Illinois and in the Mississippi Valley. The intervening winter he 
had spent in a hut which his companions erected on the Chicago River, a 
few leagues from its mouth. The founding of this mission was the last 



112 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

act of Marquette's life. He died in Michigan, on his way back to Green 
Bay, May 18, 1675. 

FIRST FRENCH OCCUPATION. 

The first French occupation of the territory now embraced in Illi- 
nois was effected by LaSalle in 1680, seven years after the time of Mar- 
quette and Johet. LaSalle, having constructed a vessel, the " Griffin," 
above the falls of Niagara, which he sailed to Green Bay, and having 
passed thence in canoes to the mouth of the St. Joseph River, by which 
and the Kankakee he reached the Illinois, in January, 1680, erected Fort 
Crevecoeur, at the lower end of Peoria Lake, where the city of Peoria is 
now situated. The place where this ancient fort stood may still be seen 
just below the outlet of Peoria Lake. It was destined, however, to a 
temporary existence. From this point, LaSalle determined to descend 
the Mississippi to its month, but did not accomplish this purpose till two 
years later — in 1682. Returning to Fort Fron^enac for the purpose of 
getting materials with which to rig his vessel, he left the fort in charge of 
Touti, his lieutenant, who during his absence was driven off b}' the Iro- 
quois Indians. These savages had made a raid upon the settlement of 
the Illinois, and had left nothing in their track but ruin and desolation. 
Mr. Davidson, in his History of Illinois, gives the following graphic 
account of the picture that met the eyes of LaSalle and his companions 
on their return : 

" At the great town of the Illinois they were appalled at the scene 
whicii opened to their view. No hunter appeared to break its death-like 
silence with a salutatory whoop ot welcome. The plain on which the 
town liad stood was now strewn with charred fragments of lodges, which 
had so recently swarmed with savage life and liilarity. To render more 
hideous the picture of desolation, large numbers of skulls had been 
placed on the upper extremities of lodge-poles which liad escaped the 
devouring flames. In the midst of these horrors was the rude fort of 
the spoilers, rendered frightful by the same ghastly relics. A near 
approach showed that the graves had been robbed of their bodies, and 
swarms of buzzards were discovered glutting their loathsome stomachs 
on the reeking corruption. To complete the work of destruction, the 
growing corn of the village had been cut down and burned, while the 
pits containing the jiroducts of previous years, had been rifled and their 
contents scattered witli wanton waste. It was evident the suspected 
blow of the Iroquois had fallen with relentless fury." 

Tonti had escaped LaSalle knew not whither. Passing down the 
lake in search of him and his men, LaSalle discovered that the fort had 
been destroyed, but the vessel which he had partly constructed was still 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 113 

on the stocks, and but slightly injured. After further fruitless search. 
failing to find Tonti, he fastened to a tree a painting representing him?;elf 
and party sitting in a (uinoe and Ijearing a pipe of peace, and to the paint- 
ing attached a letter addressed to Tonti. 

Tonti had escaped, and, after untold privations, taken shelter among 
tlie Pottawattamies near Green Bay. These were friendly to tlie French. 
One of their old chiefs used to say, " There were but three great cap- 
taius iu the world, himself, Tonti and LaSalle."' 

GENIUS OF LaSALLE. 

We must now return to LaSalle, whose exploits stand out in such 
bold relief. He was born in Rouen, France, in 1643. His father was 
wealthy, but he renounced his patrimony on entering a college of the 
Jesuits, from which he separated and came to Canada a poor man in 1666. 
The priests of St. Suljjice, among whom he had a brother, were then the 
proprietors of Montreal, the nucleus of which was a seminary or con- 
vent founded by that order. The Superior granted to LaSalle a large 
tract of land at LaChine, where he establislied himself in the fur trade. 
He was a man of daring genius, and outstripped all his competitors in 
exploits of travel and commerce with the Lidians. In 1660, he visited 
the headquarters of the great Iroquois Confederacy, at Onondaga, in the 
heart of New York, and, obtaining guides, explored the Ohio River to 
the falls at Louisville. 

In order to understand the genius of LaSalle, it must be remembered 
that for many years prior to his time the missionaries and traders were 
obliged to make their way to the Northwest by the Ottawa River (of 
Canada) on account of the fierce hostility of the Iroquois along the lower 
lakes and Niagara River, which entirely closed this latter route to the 
Upper Lakes. They carried on their comuierce chiefly b)' canoes, pad- 
dling them through the Ottawa to Lake Nipissing, carrying them across 
the portage to French River, and descending that to Lake Huron. This 
being the route by which they reached the Northwest, accounts for the 
fact that all the earliest Jesuit missions were established in the neighbor- 
hood of the Upper Lakes. LaSalle conceived the grand idea of opening 
the route by Niagara River and the Lower Lakes to Canadian commerce 
by sail vessels, connecting it with the navigation of the Mississippi, and 
thus opening a magnificent water communication from the Gulf of St. 
Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico. This truly grand and compi-ehensive 
purpose seems to have animated him iu all his wonderful achievements 
and the matchless difficulties and hardships he surmounted. As the first 
step in the accomplishment of this object he established himself on Lake 
Ontario, and built and garrisoned Fort Frontenac, the site of the present 



114 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

city of Kingston, Canada. Here he obtained a grant of land from the 
French crown and a body of troops by which he beat back the invading 
Iroquois and cleared the passage to Niagara Falls. Having by this mas- 
terly stroke made it safe to attempt a hitherto untried expedition, his 
next step, as we have seen, was to advance to the Falls with all his 
outfit for building a ship with which to sail the lakes. He was success- 
ful in this undertaking, though his ultimate purpose was defeated by a 
strange combination of untoward circumstances. The Jesuits evidently 
hated LaSalle and plotted against him, because he had abandoned them 
and co-operated with a rival order. The fur traders were also jealous of 
his superior success in opening new channels of commerce. At LaChine 
he had taken the trade of Lake Ontario, which but for his presence there 
would have gone to Quebec. While they were plodding with their barjc 
canoes through the Ottawa he was constructing sailing vessels to com- 
mand the trade of the lakes and the Mississippi. These great plans 
excited the jealousy and envy of the small traders, introduced treason and 
revolt into the ranks of his own companions, and finally led to the foul 
assassination by which his great achievements were prematurely ended. 

In 1682, LaSalle, having completed his vessel at Peoria, descended 
the Mississippi to its confluence with the Gulf of Mexico. Erecting a 
standard on which he inscribed the arms of France, he took formal pos- 
session of the whole valley of the mighty river, in the name of Louis 
XIV., then reigning, in honor of whom he named the country Louisiana. 

LaSalle then went to France, was appointed Governor, and returned 
with a fleet and immigrants, for the purpose of planting a colony in Illi- 
nois. They arrived in due time in the Gulf of Mexico, but failing to 
find the mouth of the Mississippi, up which LaSalle intended to sail, his 
sujjply ship, with the immigrants, was driven ashore and wrecked ou 
Matagorda Bay. With the fragments of the vessel he constructed a 
stockade and rude huts on the shore for the protection of tlie immigrants, 
calling the post Fort St. Louis. He then made a trip into New Mexico, 
in search of silver mines, but, meeting with disappointment, returned to 
find his little colon}- reduced to forty souls. He then resolved to travel 
on foot to Illinois, and, starting with his companions, had reached the 
valley of the Colorado, near the mouth of Trinity river, when he was 
shot by one of his men. This occurred on the 19th of March, 1687. 

Dr. J. W. Foster remarks of him : " Thus fell, not far from the banks 
of the Trinity, Rol)ert Cavalier do la Salic, one of the grandest charac- 
ters that ever figured in American history — a man capable of originating 
the vastest schemes, and endowed with a will and a judgment capable of 
carrying them to successful results. Had ample facilities been placed by 
the King of France at his disposal, the result of the colonization of this 
continent might have been far different from what we now behold." 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 115 



EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 

A temporarv settlement was made at Fort St. Louis, or the old Kas- 
kaskia village, on the Illinois River, in what is now LaSalle County, in 
1682. Li 1690, this was removed, with the mission connected with it, to 
Kaskaskia, on the river of that name, emptying into the lower Mississippi 
in St. Clair County. Cahokia was settled about the same time, or at 
least, both of these settlements began in the year 1690, though it is now 
pretty well settled that Cahokia is the older place, and ranks as the oldest 
permanent settlement in lUinuin, as well as in the Mississippi Vallej% 
The reason for the removal of the jld Kaskaskia settlement and mission, 
was probably because the dangerous and difficult route by Lake Michigan 
and the Chicago portage had been almost abandoned, and travelers and. 
traders passed down and up the Mississippi 1)V the Fox and Wisconsin 
River route. Tiiey removed to the vicinity of tlie Mississippi in order 
to be in the line of travel from Canada to Louisiana, that is, the lower 
part of it, for it was all Louisiana then south of the lakes. 

During the period of French rule in Louisiana, the population prob- 
alil}- never exceeded ten thousand, including whites and blacks. Within 
that portion of it now included in Indiana, trading posts were established 
at the principal Miami villages which stood on the head waters of the 
Maumee, the Wea villages situated at Ouiatenon, on the Wabash, and 
the Piankeshaw villages at Post Vincennes ; all of which wei-e probably 
visited by French traders and missionaries before the close of the seven- 
teenth century. 

In the vast territory claimed by the French, many settlements of 
considerable importance had sprung up. Biloxi, on Mobile Bay, had 
been founded by DTberville, in 1099; Antoine de Lamotte Cadillac had 
founded Detroit in 1701 ; and New Orleans had been founded by Bien- 
ville, under the auspices of the Mississippi Company, in 1718. In Illi- 
nois also, considerable settlements had been made, so that in 1730 they 
embraced one hundred and forty French families, about six hundred " con- 
verted Indians," and many traders and voyageurs. In that portion of the 
country, on the east side of the Mississippi, thei'e were five distinct set- 
tlements, with their respective villages, viz. : Cahokia, near the mouth 
of Cahokia Creek and about five miles below the present cit}' of St. 
Louis ; St. Philip, about forty-five miles below Cahokia, and four miles 
above Fort Chartres ; Fort Chartres, twelve miles above Kaskaskia ; 
Kaskaskia, situated on tlie Kaskaskia River, five miles above its conflu- 
ence with the Mississippi ; and Prairie du Rocher, near Fort Chartres. 
To these must be added St. Genevieve and St. Louis, on the west side 
of the Mississippi. These, with the exception of St. Louis, are among 



116 



HISTOKY OF THE STATE OF lUilNOlS. 







< 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 117 

the oldest French towns in the Mississippi Valley. Kaskaskia, in its best 
days, was a town of some two or three thousand inhabitants. After it 
passed from the crown of France its population for many years did not 
exceed fifteen hundred. Under British rule, in 1773, the population had 
decreased to four hundred and fift\-. As early as 1721, the Jesuits had 
established a college and a monastery in Kaskaskia. 

Fort Chartres was first built under the direction of the Mississippi 
Company, in 1718, by M. de Boisbraint, a military oificer, under command 
of Bienville. It stood on the east bank of the Mississippi, about eighteen 
miles below Kaskaskia, and was for some time the headquarters of the 
military commandants of the district of Illinois. 

In the Centennial Oration of Dr. Fowler, delivered at Philadelphia, 
by appointment of Gov. Beveridge, we find some interesting facts with 
regard to the State of Illinois, which we appropriate in this history: 

In 1682 Illinois became a possession of the French crown, a depend- 
ency of Canada, and a part of Louisiana. In 1765 the English flag was 
run up on old Fort Chartres, and Illinois was counted among the treas- 
ures of Great Britain. 

In 1779 it was taken from the English by Col. George Rogers Clark. 
This man was resolute in nature, wise in council, prudent in policy, bold 
in action, and heroic in danger. Few men who haA'e figured in the his- 
torv of America are more deserving than this colonel. Nothing short of 
first-class ability could have rescued Vincens and all Illinois from the 
English. And it is not possible to over-estimate the influence of this 
achievement upon the republic. In 1779 Illinois became a part of Vir- 
ginia. It was soon known as Illinois County. In 1784 Virginia ceded 
all this territory to the general government, to be cut into States, to be 
republican in form, with " the same right of sovereignty, freedom, and 
independence as the other States." 

In 1787 it was the object of the wisest and ablest legislation found 
in any merely human records. No man can studj' the secret history of 

THE "COMPACT OF 1787," 

and not feel that Providence was guiding with sleepless eye these unborn 
States. The ordinance that on July 13, 1787, finally became the incor- 
porating act, has a most marvelous liistory. Jefferson had vainly tried 
to secure a system of government for the northwestern territory. He 
was an emancipationist of that day, and favored the exclusion of slavery 
from the territory Virginia had ceded to the general government; but 
the South voted him down as often as it came up. In 1787, as late as 
July 10, an organizing act without the anti-slavery clause was pending. 
This concession to the South was expected to carry it. Congress was in 



118 HISTORY OP THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

session in New York City. On July 5, Rev. Dr. Manasseh Cutler, of 
Massachusetts, came into New York to lobby on the northwestern terri- 
tory. Eveiything seemed to fall into his hands. Events were ripe. 

The state of the public credit, the growing of Southern prejudice, 
the basis of his mission, his personal character, all combined to complete 
one of those sudden and marvelous revolutions of public sentiment that 
once in five or ten centuries are seen to sweep over a country like the 
breath of the Almighty. Cutler was a graduate of Yale — received his 
A.M. from Harvard, and his D.D. from Yale. He had studied and taken 
degrees in the three learned professions, medicine, law, and divinitj'. He 
had thus America's best indorsement. He had published a scientific 
examination of the plants of New England. His name stood second only 
to that of Franklin as a scientist in America. He was a courtly gentle- 
man of the old style, a man of commanding presence, and of invitmg 
face. The Southern members said they had never seen such a gentleman 
in the North. He came representing a company that desired to purchase 
a tract of land now included in Ohio, for the purpose of planting a colony. 
It was a speculation. Government monej- was worth eighteen cents on 
the dollar. This Massachusetts company had collected enough to pur- 
chase 1,500,000 acres of land. Other speculators in New York made 
Dr. Cutler their agent (lobbyist). On the 12th he represented a demand 
for 5,500,000 acres. This would reduce the national debt. Jefferson 
and Virginia were regarded as authority concerning the land Virginia 
had just ceded. Jefferson's policy wanted to provide for the public credit, 
and this was a good opportunity to do something. 

Massachusetts then owned the territory of Maine, which she was 
crowding on the market. She was opposed to opening the northwestern 
region. This fired tlie zeal of Virginia. The South caught the inspira- 
tion, and all exalted Dr. Cutler. The English minister invited him to 
dine witli some of the Southern gentlemen. He was the center of interest. 

The entire South rallied round him. Massachusetts could not vote 
against him, because many of the constituents of her members were 
interested personally in the western speculation. Thus Cutler, making 
friends with the South, and, doubtless, using all the arts of the lobby, 
was enabled to command tlie situation. True to deeper convictions, he 
dictated one of the most compact and finished documents of wise states- 
manship that has ever adorned any human law book. He borrowed from 
Jefferson the term " Articles of Compact," which, preceding the federal 
constitution, rose into the most sacred character. He then followed very 
closely the constitution of Massachusetts, adopted three years before. 
Its most marked points were : 

1. The exclusion of slavery from the territory forever. 

2. Provision for public schools, giving one township for a seminary, 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 119 

and every section numbered 16 in each township ; that is, one-thu"ty-sixth 
of all the land, for public schools. 

3. A provision prohibiting the adoption of any constitution or the 
enactment of any law that should nullify pre-existing contracts. 

Be it forever remembered that this compact declared that " Religion, 
morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the 
happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall always 
be encouraged." 

Dr. Cutler planted himself on this platform and would not yield. 
Giving his unqualified declaration that it was that or nothing — that unless 
they could make the land desirable they did not want it — he took his 
horse and buggy, and started for the constitutional convention in Phila- 
delphia. On July 13, 1787, the bill was put upon its passage, and was 
unanimously adopted, every Southern member voting for it, and only one 
man, Mr. Yates, of New York, voting against it. But as the States voted 
as States, Yates lost his vote, and the compact was put beyond repeal. 

Thus the great States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wis- 
consin — a vast empire, the heart of the great valley — were consecrated 
to freedom, intelligence, and honesty. Thus the great heart of the nation 
was prepared for a year and a day and an hour. In the light of these eighty- 
nine years I affirm that this act was the salvation of the republic and the 
destruction of slaver}'. Soon the South saw their great blunder, and 
tried to repeal the compact. In 1803 Congress referred it to a committee 
of which John Randolph was chairman. He reported that this ordinance 
was a compact, and opposed repeal. Thus it stood a rock, in the way 
of the on-rushing sea of slavery. 

With all this timely aid it was, after all, a most desperate and pro- 
tracted struggle to keep the soil of Illinois sacred to freedom. It was 
the natural battle-field for the irrepressible conflict. In the southern end 
of the State slavery preceded the compact. It existed among the old 
French settlers, and was hard to eradicate. The southern part of the 
State was settled from the slave States, and this population brought their 
laws, customs, and institutions with them. A stream of population from 
the North poured into the northern part of the State. These sections 
misunderstood and hated each other perfectly. The Southerners regarded 
the Yankees as a skinning, tricky, penurious race of peddlers, filling the 
country with tinware, brass clocks, and wooden nutmegs. The North- 
erner thought of the Southerner as a lean, lank, lazy creature, burrowing 
in a hut, and rioting in whisky, dirt and ignorance. These causes aided 
in making the struggle long anel bitter. So strong was the sympathy 
with slavery that, in spite of the ordinance of 1787, and in spite of the 
deed of cession, it was determined to allow the old French settlers to 
retain their slaves. Planters from the slave States might bring their 



120 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

slaves, if they would give them a chance to choose freedom or 3'ear3 
of service and bondage for their children till the}* should become 
thirty years of age. If they chose freedom they must leave the State 
in sixty days or be sold as fugitives. Servants were whipped for offenses 
for which white men are fined. Each lash paid forty cents of the fine. A 
negro tea miles fi-om home without a pass was whipped. These famous 
laws were imported from the slave States just as they imported laws ioi 
the inspection of flax and wool when there was neither in the State. 

These Black Laws are now wiped out. A vigorous effort was made 
to protect slavery in the State Constitution of 1817. It barely failed. 
It was renewed in 1825, when a convention was asked to make a new 
constitution. After a hard fight the convention was defeated: But 
slaves did not disappear from the census of the State until 1850. There 
were mobs and murders in the interest of slavery. Lovejoy was added 
to the list of martyrs — a sort of first-fruits of that long life of immortal 
heroes who saw freedom as the one supreme desire of their souls, and 
were so enamored of her that they preferred to die rather than survive her. 

The population of 12,282 that occupied the territory in A.D. 1800, 
increased to 45,000 in A.D. 1818, when the State Constitution was 
adopted, and Illinois took her place in the Union, with a star on the flag 
and two votes in the Senate. 

Shadrach Bond was the first Governor, and in his first message he 
recommended the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. 

The simple economy in those days is seen in the fact that the entire 
bill for stationery for the first Legislature was only $13.50. Yet this 
simple body actually enacted a very superior code. 

There was no money in the territory before the war of 1812. Deer 
skins and coon skins were the circulating medium. In 1821, the Legis- 
lature ordained a State Bank on the credit of the State. It issued notes 
in the likeness of bank bills. These notes were made a legal tender for 
ever}' thing, and the bank was ordered to loan to the people •'$100 on per- 
sonal securit}', and more on mortgages. They actually passed a resolu- 
tion requesting the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States to 
receive these notes for land. The old French Lieutenant Governor, Col. 
Menard, put the resolution as follows: " Gentlemen of the Senate : It is 
moved and seconded dat de notes of dis bank be made land-office money. 
All in favor of dat motion say aye ; all against it say no. It is decided 
in de affirmative. Now, gentlemen, I bet you one hundred dollar he 
never be laud-office money ! " Hard sense, like hard money, is always 
above par. 

This old Frenchman presents a fine figure up against the dark back- 
ground of most of his nation. They made no progress. They clung to 
their earliest and simplest implements. They never wore hats or cap? 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 121 

They pulled their blankets over their heads in the winter like the Indians, 
with whom they freely intermingled. 

Demagogism had an early development. One John Grammar (only 
in name), elected to the Territorial and State Legislatures of 1816 and 
1836, invented the policy of opposing every new thing, saying, " If it 
succeeds, no one will ask who voted against it. If it proves a failure, he 
■could quote its record." In sharp contrast with Grammar was the char- 
acter of D. P. Cook, after whom the county containing Chicago was 
named. Such was his transparent integrity and remarkable ability that 
his will was almost the law of the State. In Congress, a 3'oung man, 
and from a poor State, he was made Chairman of the Ways and Means 
Committee. He was pre-eminent for standing by his committee, regard- 
less of consequences. It was his integrity that elected John Quiucy 
Adams to the Presidency. There were four candidates in 1824, Jackson, 
Clay, Crawford, and John Quiiicy Adams. There being no choice by the 
people, the election was thrown into the House. It was so balanced that 
it turned on his vote, and that he cast for Adams, electing him ; then 
went home to face the wrath of the Jackson party in Illinois. It cost 
him all but character and greatness. It is a suggestive comment on the 
times, that there was no legal interest till 1830. It often reached 150 
per cent., usually 50 per cent. Then it was reduced to 12, and now to 
10 per cent. 

PHYSICAL FEATURES OF THE PRAIRIE STATE. 

In area the State has 55,410 square miles of territory. It is about 
150 miles wide and 400 miles long, stretching in latitude from Maine to 
North Carolina. It embraces wide variety of climate. It is tempered 
on the north by the great inland, saltless, tideless sea, which keeps the 
thermometer from either extreme. Being a table land, from 600 to 1,600 
feet above the level of the sea, one is prepared to find on the health 
maps, prepared by the general government, an almost clean and perfect 
record. In freedom from fever and malarial diseases and consumptions, 
the three deadly enemies of the American Saxon, Illinois, as a State, 
stands without a superior. She furnishes one of the essential conditions 
of a great people — sound bodies. I suspect that this fact lies back of 
that old Delaware word, Illini, superior men. 

The great battles of history tliat have been determinative of dynas- 
ties and destinies have been strategical battles, chiefl\- the question of 
position. Thermopylae has been the war-cry of freemen for twenty-four 
centuries. It only tells how much there may be in position. All this 
advantage belongs to Illinois. It is in the heart of the greatest valley in 
the world, the vast region between the mountains — a valley that could 



122 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

feed mankind for one thousand years. It is well on toward the center of 
the continent. It is in the great temperate belt, in which have beei> 
found nearly all the aggressive civilizations of history. It has sixty-five 
miles of frontage on the head of the lake. With the Mississippi forming 
the western and southern boundary, with the Oliio running along the 
southeastern line, with the Illinois River and Canal dividing the State 
diagonally from the lake to the Lower Mississippi, and with the Rock and 
Wabash Rivers furnishing altogether 2,000 miles of water-front, con- 
necting with, and running through, in all about 12,000 miles of navi- 
gable water. 

But this is not all. These waters are made most available by the 
fact that the lake and the State lie on the ridge running into the great 
valley from the east. Within cannon-shot of the lake the water runs- 
away from the lake to the Gulf. The lake now empties at both ends, 
one into the Atlantic and one into the Gulf of Mexico. The lake thus 
seems to hang over the land. This makes the dockage most serviceable j 
there are no steep banks to damage it. Both lake and river are made 
for use. 

The climate varies from Portland to Richmond ; it favoi's every pro- 
duct of the continent, including the tropics, with less than half a dozen 
exceptions. It produces ever}^ great nutriment of the world except ban- 
anas and rice. It is hardly too much to say that it is the most productive 
spot known to civilization. With the soil full of bread and the earth full 
of minsrals ; with an upper surface of food and an under layer of fuel ; 
with perfect natural drainage, and abundant springs and streams and 
navigable rivers ; half way between the forests of the North and the fruits 
of the Soutli ; within a day's ride of the great deposits of iron, coal, cop- 
per, lead, and zinc ; containing and controlling the great grain, cattle, 
pork, and lumber markets of the world, it is not strange that Illinois has 
the advantage of position. 

This advantage has been supplemented by the character of the popu- 
lation. In the early days when Illinois was first admitted to the Union, 
her population were chiefly from Kentucky and Virginia. But, in the 
conflict of ideas concerning slavery, a strong tide of emigration came in 
from the East, and soon changed this composition. In 1870 her non- 
native population were from colder soils. New York furnished 1.33,290-; 
Oliio gave l()2,62o ; Pennsylvania sent on 98,852; the entire South gave 
us only 206,734. In all lier cities, and in all her German and Scandina- 
vian and other foreign colonies, Illinois has only about one-fifth of her 
people of foreign birth. 



HISTORY OP THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 123 



PROGRESS OF DEVELOPMENT. 

One of the greatest elements in the early development of Illinois is 
the niinois and Michigan Canal, connecting the Illinois and Mississippi 
Rivers with the lakes. It was of the utmost importance to the State. 
It was recommended by Gov. Bond, the first governor, in his first message. 
In 1821, the Legislature appropriated $10,000 for surveying the route. 
Two blight young engineers surveyed it, and estimated the cost at 
$600,000 or $700,000. It finally cost $8,000,000. In 182.5, a law was 
passed to incorporate the Canal Company, but no stock was sold. In 
1826, upon the solicitation of Cook, Congress gave 800,000 acres of land 
on the line of the work. In 1828, another law — commissioners appointed, 
and work commenced witli new survey and new estimates. In 1834-35, 
George Farquhar made an able report on the whole matter. This was, 
doubtless, the ablest report ever made to a western legislature, and it 
became the model for subsequent reports and action. From this the 
work went on till it was finished in 1848. It cost the State a large 
amount of money ; but it gave to the industries of the State an impetus 
that pushed it up into the first rank of greatness. It was not built as a 
speculation any more than a doctor is employed on a speculation. But 
it has paid into the Treasary of the State an average annual net sum of 
over $111,000. 

Pending the construction of the canal, the land and town-lot fever 
broke out in the State, in 1834—35. It took on the malignant type in 
Chicago, lifting the town up into a city. The disease spread over the 
entire State and adjoining States. It was epidemic. It cut up men's 
farms without regard to locality, and 3ut up the purses of the purcliasers 
without regard to consequences. It is estimated that building lots enough 
were sold in Indiana alone to accommodate every citizen then in the 
United States. 

Towns and cities were exported to che Eastern market by the ship- 
load. There was no lack of buyers. Ever/ up-ship came freighted with 
speculators and their money. 

This distemper seized upon the Legislature in 1836-37, and left not 
one to tell the tale. They enacted a systeva of internal improvement 
without a parallel in the grandeur of its conception. The}^ ordered the 
construction of 1,300 miles of railroad, crossing the State in all direc- 
tions. This was surpassed by the river and canal improvements. 
There were a few counties not touched by either railroad or river or 
canal, and those were to be comforted and compensated by the free dis- 
tribution of $200,000 among them. To inflate this balloon beyond cre- 
dence it was ordered that work should be commenced on both ejids of 



124 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

each of these railroads and rivers, and at each river-crossing, all at the 
same time. The appropriations for these vast improvements were over 
$12,000,000, and commissioners were appointed to borrow the money on 
the credit of the State. Remember that all this was in the early days of 
railroading, when railroads were luxuries ; that the State had whole 
counties with scarcely a cabin ; and that the population of the State was 
less than 400,000, and you can form some idea of the vigor with which 
these brave men undertook the work of making a great State. In the 
light of history I am compelled to say that this was only a premature 
throb of the power that actually slumbered in the soil of the State. It 
was Hercules in the cradle. 

At this juncture the State Bank loaned its funds largely to Godfrey 
Oilman & Co., and to other leading houses, for the purpose of drawing 
trade from St. Louis to Alton. Soon they failed, and took down the 
bank witli them. 

In 1840, all hope seemed gone. A iiopulation of 480,000 were loaded 
with a debt of $14,000,000. It had only six small cities, really only 
towns, namely: Chicago, Alton, Springfield, Quincy, Galena, Nauvoo. 
This debt was to be cared for when there was not a dollar in the treas- 
ury, and when the State had borrowed itself out of all credit, and when 
there was not good money enough in the hands of all the people to pay 
the interest of the debt for a single year. Yet, in the presence of ail 
these difficulties, the young State steadily refused to repudiate. Gov. 
Ford took hold of the problem and solved it, bringing the State through 
in triumph. 

Having touched lightly upon some of the more distinctive points in 
the history of the development of Illinois, let us next brietl}' consider the 

MATERIAL RESOURCES OF THE STATE. 

It is a garden four hundred miles long and one hundred and fifty 
miles wide. Its soil is chiefly a black sandy loam, from six inches to 
sixty feet thick. On the American bottoms it has been cultivated for 
one hundred and fifty years without renewal. About the old French 
towns it has yielded corn for a century and a half without rest or help. 
It produces nearly everything green in the temperate and tropical zones. 
She leads all other States in the number of acres actuallv under plow. 
Her products from 25,000,000 of acres are incalculable. Her mineral 
wealth is scarcely second to her agricultural power. She has coal, iron, 
lead, copper, zinc, many varieties of building stone, fire clay, cunia clay, 
common brick clay, sand of all kinds, gravel, mineral paint — every thing 
needed for a high civilization. Left to herself, she has the elemonis of 
all greatness. The single item of coal is too vast for an appreciative 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 125 

handling in figures. We can handle it in general terms like algebraical 
signs, but long before we get up into the millions and billions the human 
mind drops down from comprehension to mere symbolic apprehension. 

When I tell you that nearly four-fifths of the entire State is under- 
laid with a deposit of coal more than forty feet thick on the average (now 
estimated, by recent surveys, at seventy feet thick), you can get some 
idea of its amount, as you do of the amount of the national debt. There 
it is ! 41,000 square miles — one vast mine into which you could put 
any of the States ; in which you could bury scores of European and 
ancient empires, and have room enough all round to work without know- 
ing that they had been sepulchered there. 

Put this vast coal-bed down by the other great coal deposits of the 
world, and its importance becomes manifest. Great Britain has 12,000 
square miles of coal; Spain, 3,000; France, 1,719; Belgium, 578; Illinois 
about twice as many square miles as all combined. Virginia has 20,000 
square miles ; Pennsylvania. 16,000 ; Ohio, 12,000. Illinois has 41,000 
square miles. One-seventh of all the known coal on this continent is in 
Illinois. 

Could we sell the coal in this single State for one-seventh of one cent 
a ton it would pay the national debt. Converted into power, even with 
the wastage in our common engines, it would do more work than could 
be done by the entire race, beginning at Adam's wedding and working 
ten hours a day through all the centuries till the present time, and right 
on into the future at the same rate for the next 600,000 j^ears. 

Great Britain uses enough mechanical power to-day to give to each 
man, woman, and child in the kingdom the help and service of nineteen 
untiring servants. No wonder she has leisure and luxuries. No wonder 
the home of the common artisan has in it more luxuries than could be 
found in the jDalace of good old King Arthur. Think, if you can conceive 
of it, of the vast army of servants that slumber in the soil of Illinois, 
impatiently awaiting the call of Genius to come forth to minister to our 
comfort. 

At the present rate of consumption England's coal supply will be 
exhausted in 250 years. When this is gone she must transfer her dominion 
either to the Indies, or to British America, which I would not resist ; or 
to some other people, which I would regret as a loss to civilization. 

COAL IS KING. 

At the same rate of consumption (which far exceeds our own) the 
deposit of coal in Illinois will last 120,000 years. And her kingdom shall 
be an everlasting kingdom. 

Let us turn now from this reserve power to the annual products of 



126 HtSTORY OF THE' STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

the State. We shall not be humiliated in this field. Here we strike the 
secret of our national credit. Nature provides a market in the constant 
appetite of the race. Men must eat, and if we can furnish the provisions 
we can command the treasure. All that a man hath will he give for his 
Hfe. 

According to the last census Illinois produced -30,000,000 of bushels 
of wheat. That is more wheat than was raised by an}' other State in the 
Union. She raised In 1875, 130,000,000 of bushels of corn — twice as 
much as any other State, and one-sixth of all the corn raised in the United 
States. Slie harvested 2,747,000 tons of hay, nearly one-tenth of all the 
hay in the Republic. It is not generally appreciated, but it is true, that 
the hay crop of the country is worth more than the cotton crop. The 
hay of Illinois equals the cotton of Louisiana. Go to Charleston, S. C, 
and see them peddling handfuls of hay or grass, almost as a curiosity, 
as we regard Chinese gods or the cryolite of Greenland ; drink your 
coffee and condensed milk ; and walk back from the coast for many a I 

league through the sand and burs till you get up into the better atmos- 
phere of the mountains, without seeing a waving meadow or a grazing 
herd ; then a'ou will begin to appreciate the meadows of the Prairie State, 
where the grass often grows sixteen feet high. 

The value of her farm implements is $211,000,000, and the value of 
her live stock is only second to the great State of New York. in 1875 ' 

she had 2.5,000,000 hogs, and packed 2,113,845, about one-half of all that . 

were packed in the United States. Tliis is no insignificant item. Pork 
is a growing demand of the old world. Since the laborers of Europe 
have gotten a taste of our bacon, and we have learned how to pack it dry I 

in boxes, like dry goods, the world has become the market. ! 

The hog is on the march into the future. His nose is ordained to 
uncover the secrets of dominion, and his feet shall be guided by the star 
of empire. 

Illinois marketed 1*57,000,000 wcnth of slaughtered animals — more 
than any other State, and a seventh of all the States. 

Be patient with me, and pardon my pride, and I will give you a list 
of some of the things in wliicli Illinois excels all other States. 

Deptli and richness of soil ; per cent, of good ground ; acres of 
improved land ; large farms — some farms contain from 40,000 to 60,000 
acres of cultivated land, 40,000 acres of corn on a single farm ; number of 
farmers ; amount of wheat, corn, oats and honey produced ; value of ani- 
mals for slaughter; number of hogs ; amount of pork ; number of horses 
— three times as many as Kentucky, the horse State. 

Illinois excels all otlier States in miles of railroads and in miles of 
postal service, and in money orders sold per annum, and in the amount of 
lumber sold in her markets. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 127 

Illinois is only second in many important matters. This sample list 
comprises a few of the more important : Permanent sclaool fund (good 
for a young state) ; total income for educational pui'poses : number of pub- 
lishers of books, maps, papers, etc.; value of farm products and imple- 
ments, and of live stock ; in tons of coal mined. 

The shipping of Illinois is only second to New York. Out of one 
port during the business hours of the season of navigation she sends forth 
a vessel every ten minutes. This does not include canal boats, which go 
one every five minutes. No wonder she is only second in number of 
bankers and brokers or in physicians and surgeons. 

She is third in colleges, teachers and schools ; cattle, lead, hay, 
flax, sorghum and beeswax. 

She is fourth in population, «n children enrolled in public schools, in 
law schools, in butter, potatoes and carriages. 

She is fifth in value of real and personal property, in theological 
seminaries and colleges exclusively for women, in milk sold, and in boots 
and shoes manufactured, and in book-binding. 

She is only seventh in the production of wood, while she is the 
twelfth in area. Surely that is well done for the Prairie State. She now 
has much more wood and growing timber than she had thirty years ago. 

A few leading industries will justify emphasis. She manufactures 
$205,000,000 worth of goods, which places her well up toward New York 
and Pennsylvania. The number of her manufacturing establishments 
increased from 1860 to 1870, 300 per cent.; capital employed increased 350 
per cent., and the amount of product increased 400 per cent. She issued 
5,500,000 copies of commercial and financial newspapers — only second to 
New York. She has 6,759 miles of railroad, thus leading all other States, 
worth $636,458,000, using 3,245 engines, and 67,712 cars, making a train 
long enough to cover one-tenth of the entire roads of the State. Her 
stations are only five miles apart. She carried last year 15,795,000 passen- 
gers, an average of 36^ miles, or equal to taking her entire population twice 
across the State. More than two-thirds of her land is within five miles of 
a railroad, and less than two per cent, is more than fifteen miles away. 

The State has a large financial interest in the Illinois Central railroad. 
The road was incorporated in 1850, and the State gave each alternate sec- 
tion for six miles on each side, and doubled the price of the remaining 
land, so keeping herself good. The road received 2,595,000 acres of land, 
and pays to the State one-seventh of the gross receipts. The State 
receives this year 1350,000, and has received in all about $7,000,000. It 
is practically the people's road, and it has a most able and gentlemanly 
management. Add to this the annual receipts from the canal, $111,000, 
and a large per cent, of the State tax is provided for. 



128 HISTORY OF THE STATE Ob' 1LL1"N01S. 



THE RELIGION AND MORALS 

of the State keep step with her productions and growth. She was born 
of the missionary spirit. It was a minister who secured for her the ordi- 
nance of 1787, by which slie has been saved from slavery, ignorance, and 
dishonesty. Rev. Mr. Wiley, pastor of a Scotch congregation in Randolph 
County, petitioned the Constitutional Convention of 1818 to recognize 
Jesus Christ as king, and the ScrijTtures as the only necessary guide and 
book of law. The convention did not act in the case, and the old Cove- 
nanters refused to accept citizenship. They never voted until 182-1, when 
the slavery question was submitted to the people ; then they all voted 
against it and cast the determining votes. Conscience has predominated 
whenever a great moral question has been submitted to the people. 

But little mob violence has ever been felt in the State. In 1817 
regulators disposed of a band of horse-thieves that infested the territoiy. 
The Mormon indignities finally awoke the same spirit. Alton was also 
the scene of a pro-slavery mob, in which Lovejoy was added to the list of 
martyrs. The moral sense of the people makes the law supreme, and gives 
to the State unruffled peace. 

With $22,300,000 in church property, and 4,298 church organizations, 
the State has that divine police, the sleepless patrol of moral ideas, that 
alone is able to secure perfect safety. Conscience takes the knife from 
the assassin's hand and the bludgeon from the grasp of the highwayman. 
We sleep in safety, not because we are behind bolts and bars — these only 
fence against the innocent ; not because a lone officer drowses on a distant 
corner of a street; not because a sheriff may call his posse from a remote 
part of the county : but because conscience guards the very portals of the 
air and stirs in the deepest recesses of the public mind. This spirit issues 
within the State 9,500,000 copies of religious papers annually, and receives 
still more from without. Thus the crime of the State is only one-fourth 
that of New York and one-half that of Pennsylvania. 

Illinois never had but one duel between her own citizens. In Belle- 
ville, in 1820, Aljihonso Stewart and William Bennett arranged to vindi- 
cate injured honor. The seconds agreed to make it a sham, and make 
them shoot blanks. Stewart was in the secret. Bennett mistrusted some- 
thing, and, unobserved, slipped a bullet into his gun and killed Stewart. 
He then fled the State. After two years he was caught, tried, convicted, 
and, in spite of friends and political aid, was hung. This fixed the code 
of honor on a Christian basis, and terminated its use in Illinois. 

The early preachers were ignorant men, who were accounted eloquent 
according to the strength of their voices. But they set the style for all 
public speakers. Lawyers and political speakers followed this rule. Gov. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 129 

Ford says: "Nevertheless, these first preachers were of incalculable 
benefit to the country. They inculcated justice and morality. To them 
are we indebted for the first Christian character of the Protestant portion 
of the people." 

In education Illinois surpasses her material resources. The ordinance 
of 1787 consecrated one thirty -sixth of her soil to common schools, and 
the law of 1818, the first law that went upon her statutes, gave three per 
cent, of all the rest to 

EDUCATION. 

The old compact secures this interest forever, and by its yoking- 
moralit}^ and intelligence it precludes the legal interference with the Bible 
in the public schools. With such a start it is natural that we should have 
11,050 schools, and that our illiteracy should be less than New York or 
Pennsylvania, and only about one-half of Massachusetts. We are not to 
blame for not having more than one-half as many idiots as the great 
States. These public schools soon made colleges inevitable. The first 
college, still flourisliing, was started in Lebanon in 1828, by the M. E. 
church, and named after Bishop McKendree. Illinois College, at Jackson- 
ville, supported by the Presbyterians, followed in 1830. In 1832 the Bap- 
tists built Shurtlefi^ College, at Alton. Then the Presbyterians built Knox 
College, at Galesburg, in 1838, and the Episcopalians built Jubilee College, 
at Peoria, in 1847. After these early years colleges have rained down. 
A settler could hardly encamp on the prairie but a college would spring 
up by his wagon. The State now has one very well endowed and equipped 
university, namely, the Northwestern University, at Evanston, with six 
colleges, ninety instructors, over 1,000 students, and $1,500,000 endow- 
ment. 

Rev. J. M. Peck was the first educated Protestant minister in tne 
State. He settled at Rock Spring, in St. Clair County, 1820, and left his 
impress on the State. Before 1837 only party papers were published, but 
Mr. Peck published a Gazetteer of Illinois. Soon after John Russell, of 
Bluffdale, published essays and tales showing genius. Judge James Hall ' 
published The Illinois Monthly Blagazine with great ability, and an annual 
called The Western Souvenir, which gave him an enviable fame all over the 
United States. From these beginnings Illinois has gone on till she has 
more volumes in public libaaries even than Massachusetts, and of the 
44,500,000 volumes in all the public libraries of the United States, she 
has one-thirteenth. In newspapers she stands fourth. Her increase is 
marvelous. In 1850 she issued 5,000,000 copies; in 1860, 27,590,000 ; in 
1870, 113,140,000. In 1860 she had eighteen colleges and seminaries ; in 
1870 she had eighty. That is a grand advance for the war decade. 

This brings us to a record unsurpassed in the history of any age. 



130 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 



THE WAR RECORD OF ILLINOIS. 

I hardly know where to begin, or how to advance, or what to say. I 
can at best give you only a broken synopsis of her deeds, and you must 
put them in the order of glory for yourself. Her sons have always been 
foremost on fields of danger. In 1832-33, at the call of Gov. Reynolds, 
ter sons drove Blackhawk over the Mississippi. 

When the Mexican war came, in May, 1846, 8,370 men offered them- 
selves when only 3,720 could be accepted. The fields of Buena Vista and 
Vera Cruz, and the storming of Cerro Gordo, will carry the glory of Illinois 
soldiers along after the infamy of the cause they served has been forgotten. 
But it was reserved till our day for her sons to find a field and cause and 
foemen that could fitly illustrate their spirit and heroism. Illinois put 
into her own regiments for the United States government 256,000 men, 
and into the army through other States enough to swell the number to 
290,000. This far exceeds all the soldiers of the federal government in 
all the war of the revolution. Her total years of service were over 600,000. 
She enrolled men from eighteen to forty-five years of age when the law 
of Congress in 1864 — the test time — only asked for those from twenty to 
forty-five. Her enrollment was otherwise excessive. Her people wanted 
to go, and did not take the pains to correct the enrollment. Thus the 
basis of fixing the quota was too great, and then the quota itself, at least 
in the trying time, was far above any other State. 

Thus the demand on some counties, as Monroe, for example, took every 
able-bodied man in the county, and then did not have enough to fill the 
quota. Moreover, Illinois sent 20,844 men for ninet}' or one hundred days, 
for whom no credit was asked. Wiien Mr. Lincoln's attention was called 
to the inequality of the quota compared with other States, he replied, 
*' The country needs the sacrifice. We must put the whip on the free 
horse." In spite of all these disadvantages Illinois gave to the country 
73,000 years of sei-vice above all calls. With one-thirteenth of the popu- 
lation of the loyal States, she sent regularly one-tenth of all the soldiers, 
and in the peril of the closing calls, when patriots were few and weary, 
she then sent one-eighth of all that were called for by her loved and hon- 
ored son in the white house. Her mothers and daughters went into the 
fields to raise the grain and keep the children togetlier, wliile the fathers 
and older sons went to the harvest fields of the world. I knew a father 
and four sons who agreed that one of them must stay at home ; and they 
pulled straws from a stack to see who might go. The father was left. 
The next day he came into the camp, saying : " Mother says she can get 
the crops in, and I am going, too." I know large Mctliodist churches 
from which every male member went to the army. I^o you want to know 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 131 

what these heroes from Illinois did in the field ? Ask any soldier with a 
good record of his own, who is thus able to judge, and he will tell you 
that the Illinois men went in to win. It is common history that the greater 
victories were won in the West. When everything else looked dark Illi- 
nois was gaining victories all down the river, and dividing the confederacy. 
Sherman took with him on his great march forty-five regiments of Illinois 
infantry, three companies of artillery, and one company of cavaliy. He 
could not avoid 

GOING TO THE SEA. 

If he had been killed, I doubt not the men would have gone right on. 
Lincoln answered all rumors of Sherman's defeat with, " It is impossible ; 
there is a mighty sight of fight in 100,000 Western men." Illinois soldiers 
brought home 300 battle-flags. The first United States flag that floated 
over Richmond was an Illinois flag. She sent messengers and nurses to 
every field and hospital, to care for her sick and wounded sons. She said, 
" These suffering ones are my sons, and I will care for them." 

When individuals had given all, then cities and towns came forward 
with their credit to the extent of many millions, to aid these men and 
their families. 

Illinois gave the country the great general of the war — Ulysses S. 
Grant — since honored with two terms of the Presidency of the United 
States. 

One other name from Illinois comes up in all minds, embalmed in all 
hearts, that must have the supreme place in this story of our glory and 
of our nation's honor ; that name is Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois. 

The analysis of Mr. Lincoln's character is difficult on account of its 
symmetry. 

In this age we look with admiration at his uncompromising honesty. 
And well we may, for this saved us. Thousands throughout the length 
and breadth of our country who knew him only as " Honest Old Abe," 
voted for him on that account ; and wisely did they choose, for no other 
man could have carried us through the fearful night of the war. When 
his plans were too vast for our comprehension, and his faith in the cause 
too sublime for our participation ; when it was all night about us, and all 
dread before us, and all sad and desolate behind us; when not one ray 
shone upon our cause ; when traitors were haughty and exultant at the 
South, and fierce and blasphemous at the North ; when the loyal men here 
seemed almost in the minorit}^ ; when the stoutest heart quailed, the bravest 
cheek paled ; when generals were defeating each other for place, and 
contractors were leeching out the very heart's blood of the prostrate 
republic : when every thing else had failed us, we looked at this calm, 
patient man standing like a rock in the storm, and said : " Mr. Lincoln 



132 HISTOKY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

is honest, and we can trust him still."" Holding to this single point with 
the energy of faith and despair we held together, and, under God, he 
brought us thi-ough to victory. 

His practical wisdom made him the wonder of all lands. With such 
certainty did Mr. Lincoln follow causes to their ultimate effects, that his 
foresight of contingencies seemed almost prophetic. 

He is radiant with all the great virtues, and his memory shall shed a 
glory upon this age that shall fill the eyes of men as they look into his- 
tory. Other men have excelled him in some point, but, taken at all 
points, all in all, he stands head and shoulders above every other man of 
6,000 years. An administrator, he saved the nation in the perils of 
unparalleled civil war. A statesman, he justified his measures by their 
success.- A philanthropist, he gave liberty to one race and salvation to 
another. A moralist, he bowed from the summit of human power to the 
foot of the Cross, and became a Christian. A mediator, he exercised mercy 
under the most absolute abeyance to law. A leader, he was no partisan. 
A commander, he was untainted with blood. A ruler in des^^erate times, 
he was unsullied with crime. A man, he has left no word of passion, no 
thought of malice, no trick of craft, no act of jealousy, no purpose of 
selfish ambition. Thus perfected, without a model, and without a peer, 
he was dropped into these troubled years to adorn and embellish all that 
is good and all that is great in our humanity, and to present to all coming 
time the representative of the divine idea of free government. 

It is not too much to say that away down in the future, when the 
republic has fallen from its niche in the wall of time ; when the great 
war itself shall have faded out in the distance like a mist on the horizon ; 
when the Anglo-Saxon language shall be spoken only by the tongue of 
the stranger ; then the generations looking this way shall see the great 
president as the sui^reme figure in this vortex of historv 

CHICAGO. 

It is impossible in our brief space to give more than a meager sketch 
of such a city as Chicago, which is in itself the greatest marvel of the 
Prairie State. This m\'sterious, majestic, migiity city, born first of water, 
and next of fire; sown in weakness, and raised in power; planted among 
the willows of the marsh, and crowned with the glory of the mountains ; 
sleeijing on the bosom of the prairie, and rocked on the bosom of the sea , 
the youngest city of the world, and still the eye of the prairie, as Damas- 
cus, the oldest city of the world, is the eye of the desert. AVith a com- 
merce far exceeding that of Corinth on her isthmus, in the highway to 
the East ; with the defenses of a continent piled around her by the thou- 
sand miles, making her far safer than Rome on the banks of the I'iber ; 



HISTOEY OF THE STATE OP ILLINOIS. 



133 




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>84 HISTOBY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

with schools eclipsing Alexandria and Athens : with liberties more con- 
spicuous than those of the old republics ; with a heroism equal to the first 
Carthage, and with a sanctity scarcely second to that of Jerusalem — set 
your thoughts on all this, lifted into the eyes of all men by the miracle of 
its growth, illuminated by the flame of its fall, and transfigured by the 
divinity of its resurrection, and you will feel, as I do, the utter impossi- 
bilit}' of compassing this subject as it deserves. Some impression of her 
importance is received from the shock her burning gave to the civilized 
world. 

When the doubt of her calamity was removed, and the horrid fact 
was accepted, there went a shudder over all cities, and a quiver over all 
lands. There was scarcely a town in the civilized world that did not 
shake on the brink of this opening chasm. The flames of our homes red- 
dened all skies. The city was set upon a hill, and could not be hid. All 
eyes were turned upon it. To have struggled and suifered amid the 
scenes of its fall is as distinguishing as to have fought at Thermopylse, or 
Salamis, or Hastings, or Waterloo, or Bunker Hill. 

Its calamity amazed the world, because it was felt to be the common 
property of mankind. 

The early histor}' of the city is full of interest, just as the earl}' his- 
tory of such a man as Washington or Lincoln becomes public property, 
and is cherished by every patriot. 

Starting with 560 acres in 1833, it embraced and occupied 23,000 
acres in 1869, and, having now a population of more than 500,000, it com- 
mands general attention. 

The first settler — Jean Baptiste Pointe au Sable, a mulatto from the 
West Indies — came and began trade with the Indians in 17'.>G. John 
Kinzie became his successor in 1804, in which year Fort Dearborn was 
erected. 

A mere trading-post was kept here from that time till about the time 
of the Blackhawk war, in 1832. It was not the city. It was merely a 
cock crowing at midnight. The morning was not yet. In 1833 the set- 
tlement about the fort was incorporated as a town. The voters were 
divided on the propriety of such corporation, twelve voting for it and one 
against it. Four years later it was incorporated as a city, and embraced 
560 acres. 

The produce handled in this city is an indication of its power. Grain 
and flour were imported from the East till as late as 1837. The first 
exportation by way of experiment was in 1839. Exports exceeded imports 
first in 1842. The Board of Trade was organized in 1848, but it was so 
weak that it needed nursing till 1855. Grain was purchased by the 
wagon-load in the street. 

I remember sitting with my father on a load of wheat, in the long 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 135 

line of wagons along Lake street, while the buyers came and untied the 
bags, and examined the grain, and made their bids. That manner of 
business had to cease with the day of small things. Now our elevators 
will hold 15,000,000 bushels of grain. The cash value of the produce 
handled in a year is #215,000,000, and the produce weighs 7,000,000 
tons or 700,000 car loads. This handles thirteen and a half ton each 
minute, all the year round. One tenth of all the wheat in the United 
States is handled in Chicago. Even as long ago as 1853 the receipts of 
grain in Chicago exceeded those of the goodly city of St. Louis, and in 
1854 the exports of grain from Chicago exceeded those of New York and 
doubled those of St. Petersburg, Archangel, or Odessa, the largest grain 
markets in Europe. 

Tlie manufacturing interests of the city are not contemptible. In 
1873 manufactories employed 45,000 operatives ; in 1876, 60,000. The 
manufactured product in 1875 was worth $177,000,000. 

No estimate of the size and power of Chicago would be adequate 
that did not put large emphasis on the railroads. Before they came 
thundering along our streets canals were the hope of our country. But 
who ever thinks now of traveling by canal packets ? In June, 1852, 
there were only forty miles of railroad connected with the city. The 
old Galena division of the Northwestern ran out to Elgin. But now, 
who can count the trrans and measure the roads that seek a terminus or 
connection in this city ? The lake stretches away to the north, gathering 
in to this center all the harvests that might otherwise pass to the north 
of us. If you will take a map and look at the adjustment of railroads, 
you will see, first, that Chicago is the great railroad center of the world, 
as New York is the commercial city of this continent ; and, second, that 
the railroad lines form the iron spokes of a gi'eat wheel whose hub is 
this city. The lake furnishes the only break in the spokes, and this 
seems simply to have pushed a few spokes together on each shore. See 
the eighteen trunk lines, exclusive of eastern connections. 

Pass round the circle, and view their numbers and extent. There 
is the great Northwestern, with all its branches, one branch creeping 
along the lake shore, and so reaching to the north, into the Lake Superior 
regions, away to the right, and on to the Northern Pacific on the left, 
swinging around Green Bay for iron and copper and silver, twelve months 
in the year, and reaching out for the wealth of the great agricultural 
belt and isothermal line traversed by the Northern Pacific. Another 
branch, not so far north, feeling for the heart of the Badger State. 
Another pushing lower down tlie Mississippi — all these make many con- 
nections, and tapping all the vast wheat regions of Minnesota, Wisconsin, 
Iowa, and all the regions this side of sunset. There is that elegant road, 
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, running out a goodly number of 



136 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 




OLD FOET DEARBOKN, 16U0. 




PBESENT SITK Ol' 



■K OF LAKE STIIKET UKIUIJK, . UH AGO, l.N liSOO. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OP ILLINOIS. 137 

branches, and reaping the great fields this side of the Missouri River. 
I can only mention the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis, our Illinois Central, 
described elsewhere, and the Chicago & Rock Island. Further around 
we come to the lines connecting us with all the eastern cities. The 
Chicago, Indianapolis & St. Louis, the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & 
Chicago, the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, and the Michigan Cen- 
tral and Great Western, give us many highwaj's to the seaboard. Thus we 
reach the Mississippi at five points, from St. Paul to Cairo and the Gulf 
itself by two routes. We also reach Cincinnati and Baltimore, and Pitts- 
burgh and Philadelphia, and New York. North and south run the water 
courses of the lakes and the rivers, broken just enough at this point to 
make a pass. Through this, from east to west, run the long lines that 
stretch from ocean to ocean. 

This is the neck of the glass, and the golden sands of commerce 
must pass into our hands. Altogether we have more than 10,000 miles 
of railroad, directly tributary to this city, seeking to unload their wealth 
in our coffers. All these roads have come themselves by the infallible 
instinct of capital. Not a dollar was ever given by the city to secure 
one of them, and only a small per cent, of stock taken originally by her 
citizens, and that taken simply as an investment. Coming in the natural 
order of events, they will not be easily diverted. 

There is still another showing to all this. The connection between 
New York and San Francisco is by the middle I'oute. This passes inevit- 
ably through Chicago. St. Louis wants the Southern Pacific or Kansas 
Pacific, and pushes it out through Denver, and so on up to Cheyenne. 
But before the road is fairly under way, the Chicago roads shove out to 
Kansas City, making even the Kansas Pacific a feeder, and actually leav- 
ing St. Louis out in the cold. It is not too much to expect that Dakota, 
Montana, and Washington Territory will find their great market in Chi- 
cago. 

But these are not all. Perhaps I had better notice here the ten or 
fifteen new roads that have just entered, or are just entering, our city. 
Their names are all that is necessary to give. Chicago & St. Paul, look- 
ing up the Red River country to the British possessions ; the Chicago, 
Atlantic & Pacific ; the Chicago, Decatur & State Line ; the Baltimore & 
Ohio ; the Chicago, Danville & Vincennes ; the Chicago & LaSalle Rail- 
road ; the Chicago, Pittsburgh & Cincinnati ; the Chicago and Canada 
Southern ; the Chicago and Illinois River Railroad. These, with their 
connections, and with the new connections of the old roads, already in 
process of erection, give to Chicago not less than 10,000 miles of new 
tributaries from the richest land on the continent. Thus there will be 
added to the reserve power, to the capital within reach of this city, not 
less than 11,000,000,000. 



138 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

Add to all this transporting power the ships that sail one every nine 
minutes of the business hours of the season of navigation ; add, also, the 
canal boats that leave one every five minutes during the same time — and 
you will see something of the business of the city. 

THE COMMERCE OF THIS CITY 

has been leaping along to keep pace with the growth of the country 
around us. In 1852, our commerce reached the hopeful sum of 
§20,000,000. In 1870 it reached 1400,000,000. In 1871 it was pushed 
up above $450,000,000. And in 1875 it touched nearly double that. 

One-half of our imported goods come directly to Chicago. Grain 
enough is exported directly from our docks to the old world to employ a 
semi-weekly line of steamers of 3,000 tons capacity. This branch is 
not likely to be greatly developed. Even after the great Welland Canal 
is completed we shall have only fourteen feet of water. The great ocean 
vessels will continue to control the tratle. 

The banking capital of Chicago is $24,431,000. Total exchange in 
1875, $659,000,000. Her wholesale business in 1875 was $294,000,000. 
The rate of taxes is less than in any other great city. 

The schools of Chicago are unsurpassed in America. Out of a popu- 
lation of 300,000 there were only 186 persons between the ages of six 
and twenty-one unable to read. This is the best known record. 

In 1831 the mail system was condensed into a half-breed, who went 
on foot to Niles, Mich., once in two weeks, and brought back what papers 
and news he could find. As late as 1846 tliere was often only one mail 
a week. A post-office was established in Chicago in 1833, and the post- 
master nailed up old boot-legs on one side of his shoi^ to serve as boxes 
for the nabobs and literary men. 

It is an interesting fact in the growth of the young city that in the 
active life of the business men of that day the mail matter has grown to 
a daily average of over 6,500 pounds. It speaks equally well for the 
intelligence of the people and the commercial importance of the place, 
that the mail matter distributed to the territory immediately tributary to 
Chicago is seven times greater than that distributed to the territory 
immediately tributary to St. Louis. 

The improvements that have characterized the city are as startling 
as the city itself. In 1831, Mark Beaubien established a ferry over the 
river, and put himself under bonds to carry all the citizens free for the 
privilege of charging strangers. Now there are twenty-four large bridges 
and two tunnels. 

In 1833 the government expended $30,000 on the harl)or. Then 
commenced that series of mancBUVers with the river that has made it one 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. liStf 

of the world's curiosities. It used to wind around in the lower end of 
the town, and make its way rippling over the sand into the lake at the 
foot of Madison street. They took it up and put it down where it no.sv 
is. It was a narrow stream, so narrow that even moderately small crafts 
had to go up through the willows and cat's tails to the point near Lake 
street bridge, and back up one of the branches to get room enough in 
which to turn around. 

In 1844 the quagmires in the streets were first pontooned by plank 
roads, wliich acted in wet weather as public squirt-guns. Keeping you 
out of the mud, they compromised by squirting the mud over you. The 
wooden-block pavements came to Chicago in 1857. In 1840 water was 
delivered by peddlers in carts or by hand. Then a twenty-five liorse- 
power engine pushed it through hollow or bored logs along the streets 
till 1854, wlien it was introduced into the houses by new works. The 
first fire-engine was used in 1835, and the first steam fire-engine in 1859. 
Gas was utilized for lighting the city in 1850. The Young Men's Chris- 
tian Association was organized in 1858, and horse railroads carried them 
to their work in 1859. The museum was opened in 1863. The alarm 
telegraph adopted in 1864. . The opera-house built in 1865. The city 
grew from 560 acres in 1833 to 23,000 in 1869. In 1834. the taxes 
amounted to $48.90, and the trustees of the town borrowed $60 more for 
opening and improving streets. In 1835, the legislature authorized a loan 
of $2,000, and tlie treasurer and street commissioners resigned rather than 
plunge the town into such a gulf. 

Now the city embraces 36 square miles of territory, and has 30 miles 
of water front, besides the outside harbor of refuge, of 400 acres, inclosed 
by a crib sea-wall. One-third of the city has been raised up an average 
of eight feet, giving good pitch to the 263 miles of sewerage. The water 
of the city is above all competition. It is received through two tunnels 
extending to a crib in the lake two miles from shore. The closest analy- 
sis fails to detect any impurities, and, received 35 feet below the surface, 
it is always clear and cold. The first tunnel is five feet two inches in 
diameter and two miles long, and can deliver 50,000,000 of gallons per 
day. Tiie second tunnel is seven feet in diameter and six miles long, 
running four miles under the city, and can deliver 100,000,000 of gal- 
lons per day. This water is distributed through 410 miles of wg.ter- 
mains. 

The three grand engineering exploits of the city are : First, lifting 
the city up on jack-screws, whole squares at a time, without interrupting 
the business, thus giving us good drainage ; second, running the tunnels 
under the lake, giving us the best water in the world ; and third, the 
turning the current of the river in its own channel, delivering us from the 
old abominations, and making decency possible. They redound about 



140 HISTOEY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

equally to the credit of the engineering, to the energy of the people, and 
to the health of the city. 

That which really constitutes the city, its indescribable spirit, its soul, 
the way it lights up in every feature in the hour of action, has not been 
touched. In meeting strangers, one is often surprised how some homely 
women marry so well. Their forms are bad, their gait uneven and awk- 
ward, their complexion is dull, their features are misshapen and mismatch- 
ed, and when we see them there is no beauty that we should desire theiu. 
But when once they are aroused on some subject, they put on new pro- 
portions. They light up into great power. The real person comes out 
from its unseemly ambush, and captures us at will. They have power. 
They have ability to cause things to come to pass. We no longer wonder 
why they are in such high demand. So it is with our city. 

There is no grand scenery except the two seas, one of water, the 
other of prairie. Nevertheless, there is a spirit about it, a push, a breadth, 
a power, that soon makes it a place never to be forsaken. One soon 
ceases to believe in impossibilities. Balaams are the only prophets that are 
disappointed. The bottom that has been on the point of falling out has 
been there so long that it has grown fast. It can not fall out. It has all 
the capital of the world itching to get inside the corporation. 

The two great laws that govern the growth and size of cities are, 
flrst, the amount of territory for which they are the distributing and 
receiving points ; second, the number of medium or moderate dealers that 
do this distributing. Monopolists build up themselves, not the cities. 
They neither eat, wear, nor live in proportion to their business. Both 
these laws help Chicago. 

The tide of trade is eastward — not up or down the map, but across 
the map. The lake runs up a wingdam for 500 miles to gather in the 
business. Commerce can not ferry up there for seven months in the year, 
and the facilities for seven months can do the work for twelve. Then the 
great region west of us is nearly all good, productive land. Dropping 
south into the trail of St. Louis, you fall into vast deserts and rocky dis- 
tricts, useful in holding the world together. St. Louis and Cincinnati, 
instead of rivaling and hurting Chicago, are her greatest sureties of 
dominion. They are far enough away to give sea-room, — farther off than 
Paris is from London, — and yet thej'^ are near enough to prevent tlie 
springing up of any other great city between them. 

St. Louis will be helped l)y the opening of the Mississippi, but also 
hurt. That will put New Orleanson licr feet, and with a railroad nuining 
over into Texas and so West, slie will tap the streams that now crawl up 
the Texas and Missouri road. The current is East, not North, and a sea- 
port at New Orleans can not permanently help St. Louis. 

Chicago is in the field almost alone, to handle the wealth of one- 



HISTORY OP THE STATE OP ILLINOIS. 141 

fourth of the territory of this great republic. This strip of seacoast 
divides its margins betweea Portland, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, 
Baltimore and Savannah, or some other great port to be created for the 
South ill the next decade. But Chicago has a dozen empires casting their 
treasures into her lap. On a bed of coal that can run all the machinery 
of the world for 500 centuries ; in a garden that can feed the race by the 
thousand years ; at the head of the lakes that give her a temperature as a 
summer resort equaled by no great city in the land ; with a climate that 
insures the health of her citizens ; surrounded by all the great deposits 
of natural wealth in mines aud forests and herds, Chicago is the wonder 
of to-day, and will be the city of the future. 

MASSACRE AT FORT DEARBORN. 

During the war of 1812, Fort Dearborn became the theater of stirring 
events. The garrison consisted of fifty-four men under command of 
Captain Nathan Heald, assisted by Lieutenant Helm (son-in-law of Mrs. 
Kinzie) and Ensign Rouan. Dr. Voorhees was surgeon. The only resi- 
dents at the post at that time were the wives of Captain Heald and Lieu- 
tenant Helm, and a few of the soldiers, Mr. Kinzie and his family, and 
a few Canadian voyageurs, with their wives and children. The soldiers 
and Mr. Kinzie were on most friendly terms with the Pottawattamies 
and Winnebagos, the principal tribes around them, but they could not 
win them from their attachment to the British. 

One evening in April, 1812, Mr. Kinzie sat playing on his violin and 
his children were dancing to the music, when Mrs. Kinzie came rushing 
into the house, pale with terror, and exclaiming : " The Lidians ! the 
Indians!" "What? Where?" eagerly inquired Mr. Kinzie. "Up 
at Lee's, killing and scalping," answered the frightened mother, who, 
when the alarm was given, was attending Mrs. Barnes (just confined) 
living not far off. Mr. Kinzie and his family crossed the river and took 
refuge in the fort, to which place Mrs. Barnes and her infant not a day 
old were safely conveyed. The rest of the inhabitants took shelter in the 
fort. This alarm was caused by a scalping party of Winnebagos, who 
hovered about the fort several days, when they disappeared, and for several 
weeks the inhabitants were undisturbed. 

On the 7th of August, 1812, General Hull, at Detroit, sent orders to 
Captain Heald to evacuate Fort Dearborn, and to distribute all the United 
States property to the Indians in the neighborhood — a most insane order. 
The Pottawattamie chief, who brought the dispatch, had more wisdom 
than the commanding general. He advised Captain Heald not to make 
the distribution. Said he : " Leave the fort and stores as they are, and 
let the Indians make distribution for themselves ; and while they are 
engaged in the business, the white people may escape to Fort Wayne." 



SISTOBT OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 143 

Captain Heald held a council with the Indians on the afternoon ot 
the 12th, in which his oificers refused to join, for they had been informed 
that treachery was designed — that the Indians intended to murder the 
white people in the council, and then destroy those in the fort. Captain 
Heald, however, took the precaution to open a port-hole displaying a 
cannon pointing directly upon the council, and by that means saved 
his life. 

Mr. Kinzie, who knew the Indians well, begged Captain Heald not 
to confide in their promises, nor distribute the arms and munitions among 
them, for it would only put power into their hands to destroy the whites. 
Acting upon this advice, Heald resolved to withhold the munitions of 
war ; and on the night of the 13th, after the distribution of the other 
property had been made, the powder, ball and liquors were thrown into 
the river, the muskets broken up and destroyed. 

Black Partridge, a friendly chief, came to Captain Heald, and said : 
" Linden birds have been singing in my ears to-day : be careful on the 
march you are going to take." On that dark night vigilant Indians had 
crept near the fort and discovered the destruction of their promised booty 
going on within. The next morning the powder was seen floating on the 
surface of the river. The savages were exasperated and made loud com- 
plaints and threats. 

On the following day when preparations were making to leave the 
fort, and all the inmates were deeply impressed with a sense of impend- 
ing danger, Capt. Wells, an uncle of Mrs. Heald, was discovered upon 
the Indian trail among the sand-hills on the borders of the lake, not far 
distant, with a band of mounted Miamis, of whose tribe he was chief, 
having been adopted by the famous Miami warrior, Little Turtle. When 
news of Hull's surrender reached Fort Wayne, he had started with this 
force to assist Heald in defending Fort Dearborn. He was too late. 
Every means for its defense had been destroyed the night before, and 
arrangements were made for leaving the fort on the morning of the 15th. 

It was a warm bright morning in the middle of August. Indications 
were positive that the savages intended to murder the white people ; and 
when they moved out of the southern gate of the fort, the march was 
like a funeral procession. The band, feeling the solemnity of the occa- 
sion, struck up the Dead March in Saul. 

Capt. Wells, who had blackened his face with gun-powder in token 
of his fate, took the lead with his band of Miamis, followed by Capt. 
Heald, with his wife by his side on horseback. Mr. Kinzie hoped by his 
personal influence to avert the impending blow, and therefore accompanied 
them, leaving his family in a boat in charge of a friendly Indian, to be 
taken to his trading station at the site of Niles, Michigan, in the event ot 
his death. 



144 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 



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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 145 

The procession moved slowly along the lake shore till they reached 
the sand-hills between tlie jsrairie and the beach, when the Pottawattamie 
escort, under the leadership of Blackbird, filed to the right, placing those 
hills between them and the white peojile. Wells, with his Miamis, had 
kept in the advance. They suddenly came rusliing back, Wells exclaim- 
ing, " They are about to attack us ; form instantly." These words were 
quickly followed by a storm of bullets, which came whistling over the 
little hills which the treacherous savages had made the covert for their 
murderous attack. The white troops charged upon the Indians, drove 
them back to the prairie, and then the battle was waged between fifty- 
four soldiers, twelve civilians and three or four women (the cowardly 
Miamis having fled at the outset) against five hundred Indian warriors. 
The white people, hopeless, resolved to sell their lives as dearly as possible. 
Ensign Ronan wielded his weapon vigorously, even after falling upon his 
knees weak from the loss of blood. Capt. Wells, who was by the side of 
his niece, Mrs. Heald, when the conflict began, behaved with the greatest 
coolness and courage. He said to her, '' We have not the slightest chance 
for life. We must part to meet no more in this world. God bless you." 
And then he dashed forward. Seeing a young warrior, painted like a 
demon, climb into a wagon in which were twelve children, and tomahawk 
them all, he cried out, unmindful of his personal danger, " If that is your 
game, butchering women and children, I will kill too." He spurred his 
horse towards the Indian camp, where they had left their squaws and 
papooses, hotly pursued by swift-footed young warriors, who sent bullets 
whistling after him. One of these killed his horse and wounded him 
severely in the leg. With a yell the young braves rushed to make him 
their prisoner and reserve him for torture. He resolved not to be made 
a captive, and bv the use of the most provoking epithets tried to induce 
them to kill him instantly. He called a fiery young chief a squaw, when 
the enraged warrior killed Wells instantly with his tomahawk, jumped 
upon his body, cut out his heart, and ate a portion of the warm morsel 
with savage delight ! 

In this fearful combat women bore a conspicuous part. Mrs. Heald 
was an excellent equestrian and an expert in the use of the rifle. She 
fought the savages bravely, receiving several severe wounds. Though 
faint from the loss of blood, she managed to keep her saddle. A savage 
raised his tomahawk to kill her, when she looked him full in the face, 
and with a sweet smile and in a gentle voice said, in his own language, 
" Surely you will not kill a squaw ! " The arm of the savage fell, and 
the life of the heroic woman was saved. 

Mrs. Helm, the step-daughter of Mr. Kinzie, had an encounter with 
a stout Indian, who attempted to tomahawk her. Springing to one side, 
she received the glancing blow on her shoulder, and at the same instant 



146 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLrNOIS. 

seized the savage round the neck with her arms and endeavored to get 
hold of his scalping knife, which hung in a sheath at his breast. While 
she was thus struggling she was dragged from lier antagonist by anothei 
powerful Indian, who bore her, in spite of her struggles, to the margin 
of the lake and plunged her in. To her astonishment she was held by 
him so that she would not drown, and she soon perceived that she was 
in the hands of the friendly Black Partridge, who had saved her life. 

The wife of Sergeant Holt, a large and powerful woman, behaved as 
bravely as an Amazon. She rode a fine, high-spirited horse, which the 
Indians coveted, and several of them attacked her with the butts of their 
guns, for the purpose of dismounting her ; but she used the sword which 
she had snatched from her disabled husband so skillfully that she foiled 
them ; and, suddenly wheeling her horse, she dashed over the prairie, 
followed by the savages shouting, " The brave woman ! the brave woman ! 
Don't hurt her I " They finally overtook her, and while she was fighting 
them in front, a powerful savage came up behind her, seized her by the 
neck and dragged her to tlie ground. Horse and woman were made 
captives. Mrs. Holt was a long time a captive among the Indians, but 
was afterwards ransomed. 

In this sharp conflict two-thirds of the white people were slain and 
wounded, and all their horses, baggage and provision were lost. Only 
twenty-eight straggling men now remained to fight five hundred Indians 
rendered furious In' the sight of blood. They succeeded in breaking 
through the ranks of the murderers and gaining a slight eminence on the 
pi'uirie near the Oak Woods. The Indians did not pursue, but gathered 
on their flanks, while the chiefs held a consultation on the sand-hills, and 
showed signs of willingness to parley. It would have been madness on 
the part of the whites to renew the fight ; and so Capt. Heald went for- 
ward and met Blackbird on the open prairie, where terms of surrender 
were soon agreed upon. It was arranged that the white people should 
give up their arms to Blackbird, and that the survivors should become 
prisoners of war, to be exchanged for ransoms as soon as practicable. 
With this understanding captives and captors started for the Indian 
camp near the fort, to which Mrs. Helm had been taken bleeding and 
suffering by Black Partridge, and had met her step-father and learned 
that her husband was safe. 

A new scene of liorror was now opened at the Indian camp. The 
wounded, not being included in the terms of surrender, as it was inter- 
preted by the Indians, and the British general. Proctor, having offered a 
liberal bounty for American scalps, delivered at Maiden, nearly all the 
wounded men were killed and scalped, and the price of the trophies was 
afterwards paid by the British government. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 



149 




SHABBONA. 



[This was engraved from a Jaguerreolype, taken wheu Shabbooa was 83 years old.] 



This celebrated Indian chief, whose portrait appears in this work, deserves 
more than a passing notice. Although Shabbona was not so conspicuous as 
Tecumseh or Black Hawk, yet in point of merit he was superior to either 
of them. 

Shabbona was born at an Indian village on the Kankakee River, now in 
Will County, about the year 1775. While young he was made chief of the 
band, and went to Shabbona Grove, now DeKalb County, where they were 
found in the early settlement of tlie county. 

In the war of 1812, Shabbona, with his warriors, joined Tecumseh, was 



150 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

aid to that great chief, and stood by his side when he fell at the battle of 
the Thames. At the time of the Winnebago war, in 1827, he visited almost 
every village among the Pottawatomies, and ])y his persuasive arguments 
prevented them from taking part in the war. By request of the citizens 
of Chicago, Shabbona, accompanied by Billy Caldwell (Sauganash), visited 
Big Foot's village at Geneva Lake, in order to pacify the warriors, as fears 
were entertained that they were about to raise the tomahawk against the 
whites. Here Shabbona ^yas taken jirisoner b}' Big Foot, and his life 
threatened, but on the following day was set at liberty. From that time 
the Indians (through reproach) styled him " the white man's friend," 
and many times his life was endangered. 

Before the Black Hawk war, Shabbona met in council at two differ- 
ent times, and by his influence prevented his people from taking jaart with 
the Sacs and Foxes. After the death of Black Partridge and Senachwine, 
no cliief among the Pottawatomies exerted so much influence as Shabbona. 
Black Hawk, aware of this influence, visited him at two different times, in 
order to enlist him in his cause, but was unsuccessful. While Black Hawk 
was a jn-isoner at Jefferson Barracks, he said, had it not been for Shabbona 
the wliole Pottawatomie nation would have joined his standard, and he 
could have continued the war for years. 

To Sliabbona many of the early settlers of Illinois owe the pres- 
ei'vation of their lives, for it is a well-known fact, had he not notified the 
jDcople of their danger, a large i^ortion of them would have fallen victims 
to the tomahawk of savages. By saving the lives of whites he endangered 
his own, for the Sacs and Foxes threatened to kill him, and made two 
attemjjts to execute tlieir threats. They killed Pypeogee, his son, and 
Pyps, his nephew, and hunted him down as though he was a wild beast. 

Shabbona had a reservation of two sections of land at his Grove, but 
by leaving it and going west for a short time, the Government declared 
the reservation forfeited, and sold it the same as other vacant land. On 
Shabbona's return, and finding his possessions gone, he was very sad and 
broken down in spirit, and left the Grove for ever. The citizens of Ottawa 
raised money and bought him a tract of land on the Illinois River, above 
Seneca, in Grundy County, on whicJi they built a house, and supplied 
him with means to live on. He lived here until his death, which occurred 
on the ITth of July, 1859, in the eiglity-fourth year of his age, and was 
buried with great pomp in the cemetery at Morris. His squaw, Pokanoka, 
was drowned in Mazen Creek, Grundy County, on the 30th of November, 
1864, and was buried by his side. 

In 1861 subscriptions were taken up in many of tlie river towns, to 
erect a monument over the remains of Sliabbona, but the war breaking 
out, the enterprise was abandoned. Only a plain marble slab marks the 
resting-place of this friend of the white man. 



Abstract of Illinois State Laws. 



BILLS OF EXCHANGE AND PROMISSORY NOTES. 

No promissory note, check, draft, hill of exchange, order, or note, nego- 
tiable instrument payable at sight, or on demand, or on presentment, shall 
be entitled to days of grace. All other bills of exchange, drafts or notes are 
entitled to three days of grace. All the above mentioned paper falling 
due on Sunday, New Years' Day, the Fourth of July, Christmas, or any 
day appointed or recommended by the President of the United States or 
the Governor of the State as a day of fast or thanksgiving, shall be deemed 
as due on the day previous, and should two or more of these days come 
together, then such instrument shall be treated as due on the day previous 
to the first of said days. JVo defense can be made against a negotiable 
instrument (^assigned before due^ in the hands of the assignee without 
notice, except fraud was used in obtaining the same. To hold an indorser, 
due diligence must be used by suit, in collecting of the maker, unless suit 
would have been unavailing. Notes j^ayable to person named or to order, 
in order to absolutely transfer title, must be indorsed by the payee. Notes 
payable to bearer may be transferred by delivery, and when so pa3'able 
every indorser thereon is held as a guarantor of payment unless otherwise 
expressed. 

In computing interest or discount on negotiable instruments, a month 
shall be considered a calendar month or twelfth of a year, and for less 
than a month, a day shall be figured a thirtieth part of a month. Notes 
only bear interest when so expressed, but after due they draw the legal 
interest, even if not stated. 

INTEREST. 

The legal rate of interest is six per cent. Parties may agree in writ- 
ing on a rate not exceeding ten per cent. If a rate of interest greater 
than ten per cent, is contracted for, it works a forfeiture of the whole of 
said interest, and only the principal can be recovered. 

DESCENT. 

When no tvill is made, the property of a deceased person is distrib- 
uted as follows : 



152 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

First, To his or her children and their descendants in equal parts ; 
the descendants of the deceased child or grandchild taking the share of 
their deceased parents in equal parts among them. 

Second. Wliere there is no child, nor descendant of such child, and 
no widow or surviving husband, then to the parents, brothers and sisters 
of the deceased, and their descendants, in equal parts, the surviving 
parent, if either be dead, taking a double portion ; and if there is no 
parent living, then to the brothers and sisters of the intestate and their 
descendants. 

Third. When there is a widotv or surviving husband, and no child or 
children, or descendants of the same, then one-half of the real estate and 
the whole of the personal estate shall descend to such widoto or surviving 
husband, absolutely, and the other half of the real estate shall descend as 
in other cases where there is no child or children or descendants of the 
same. 

Fourth. When there is a tcidoiv or surviving husband and also a child 
or children, or descendants of the latter, then one third of all the personal 
estate to the widow or surviving husband absolutely. 

Fifth. If there is no child, parent, brother or sister, or descendants of 
either of them, and no widow or surviving husband, then in equal parts 
to the next of kin to the intestate in equal degree. Collaterals shall not 
be represented except with the descendants of brothers and sisters of the 
intestate, and there shall be no distinction bettveen kindred of the tvhole 
and the half blood. 

Sixth. If any intestate leaves a widoio or surviving husband and no 
kindred, then to such ividoiv or surviving husband ; and if there is no such 
widow or surviving husband, it shall escheat to and vest in the county 
where the same, or the greater portion thereof, is situated. 

WILLS AND ESTATES OF DECEASED PERSONS. 

No exact form of words are necessary in order to make a will good at 
law. Every male person of the age of twenty-one years, and Qxevy female 
of the age of eighteen years, of sou7id mind and memory, can make a valid 
will ; it must be in writing, signed by the testator or by some one in his 
or her presence and by his or her direction, and attested by two or more 
credible witnesses. Care should be taken that the tvitnesses are not inter- 
ested in the will. Persons knowing themselves to have been named in the 
will or ajipointed executor, must within thirty days of the death of 
deceased cause the will to be proved and recorded in the proper county, 
or present it, and refuse to accept ; on failure to do so are liable to forfeit 
the sum of twenty dollars per month. Inventory to be made by executor 
or administrator within three months from date of letters testamentary or 



ABSTRACT OP ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 133 

of administration. Executors' and administrators' compensation not tc 
exceed six per cent, on amount of personal estate, and three per cent. 
on money realized from real estate, with such additional allowance a? 
shall be reasonable for extra services. Appraisers' compensation $2 pef 
■day. 

Notice requiring all claims to be presented against the estate shall hi 
given by the executor or administrator within six months of being quali- 
fied. Any person having a claim and not presenting it at the time fixed 
by said notice is required to have summons issued notifying the executor 
or administrator of his having filed his claim in court ; in such cases the 
costs have to be paid b}^ the claimant. Claims should be filed within two 
years from the time administration is granted on an estate, as after that 
time they are /oreuer barred, unless other estate is found that was not in- 
ventoried. Married wo7nen, infants, persons insane, imprisoned or without 
the United States, in the employment of the United States, or of this 
State, have two years after their disabilities are removed to file claims. 

Claims are classified and jniid out of the estate in the following manner : 

First. Funeral expenses. 

Second. The widow's award, if tliere is a widow ; or children if tliere 
are children, and no widow. 

Third. Expenses attending the last illness, not including physician's 
bill. 

Fourth. Debts due the common school or township fund . 

Fifth. All expenses of proving the will and taking out letters testa- 
mentary or administration, and settlement of the estate, and the physi- 
cian s bill in the last illness of deceased. 

Sixth. Where the deceased has received money in trust for any pur- 
pose, his executor or administrator shall pay out of his estate the amount 
received and not accounted for. 

Seventh. All other debts and demands of whatsoever kind, without 
regard to quality or dignity, which shall be exhibited to the court within 
two years from the granting of letters. 

Awa)-d to Widow and Children, exclusive of debts and legacies or be- 
quests, except funeral expenses: 

First. The family pictures and wearing apparel, jewels and ornaments 
of herself and minor children. 

Second. School books and the family library of the value of f 100. 

Third. One setving machine. 

Fourth. Necessary beds, bedsteads and bedding for herself and family. 

Fifth. The stoves and pipe used in the family, with the necessary 
cooking utensils, or in case tliey have none, $50 in money. 

Sirth. Household and kitchen furnitiire to the value of ilOO. 

Seventh. One milch cow and calf for every four members of her family. 



154 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

Eighth. Two sheep for each member of her familj-, and the fleeces 
taken from the same, and one horse, saddle and bridle. 

Ninth. Provisions for herself and family for one year. 

Tenth. Food for the stock above specified for six months. 

Eleventh. Fuel for herself and family for three months. 

Twelfth. One hundred dollars worth of other property suited to her 
condition in life, to be selected by the widow. 

The widow if she elects may have in lieu of the said award, the same 
personal property or money in jjlace tliereof as is or may be exempt from 
execution or attachment against tlie head of a family. 

TAXES. 

The owners of real and personal property, on the first day of May iu 
each year, are liable for the taxes thereon. 

Assessments should be completed before the fourth Monday in June, 
at which time the town board of review meets to examine assessments, 
hear objections, and make such changes as ought to be made. The county 
board have also power to correct or change assessments. 

The tax books are placed in the hands of the town collector on or 
before the tenth day of December, who retains them until the tenth day 
of March following, when he is required to return them to the county 
treasurer, who then collects all delinquent taxes. 

No costs accrue on real estate taxes till advertised, which takes place 
the first day of April, when three weeks' notice is required before judg- 
ment. Cost of advertising, twenty cents each tract of land, and ten centa 
each lot. 

Judgment is usually obtained at May term of County Court. Costs 
six cents each tract of land, and five cents each lot. Sale takes place in 
June. Costs in addition to those before mentioned, twenty-eight cents 
each tract of land, and twenty-seven cents each town lot. 

Meal estate sold for taxes may be redeemed any time before the expi- 
ration of two years from the date of sale, by payment to tlie County Clerk 
of the amount for wliicli it was sold and twenty-five per cent, thereon if 
redeemed within six months, fifty per cent, if between six and twelve 
montlis, if between twelve and eigliteen raontlis seventy-five per cent., 
and if between eighteen months and two yeai's one hundred per cent., 
and in addition, all subsequent taxes paid by the purchaser, with ten per 
cent, interest thereon, also one dollar each tract if notice is given by the 
purchaser of the sale, and a fee of twenty-five cents to tlie clerk for his 
certificate. 

JURISDICTION OF COURTS. 

Justices have jurisdiction in all civil cases on contracts for the recovery 
of moneys for damages for injury to real property, or taking, detaining, or 



\ 



ABSTRACT OF IIXIKOIS STATE LAWS. 155 

injuring personal propei-ty ; for rent; for all cases to recover damages done 
real or personal property by railroad companies, in actions of replevin, and 
in actions for damages for fraud in the sale, jmrchase, or exchange of per- 
sonal property, when the amount claimed as due is not over $200. They 
have also jurisdiction in all cases for violation of the ordinances of cities, 
toivns or villages. A justice of the peace may orally order an officer or a 
private person to arrest any one committing or attempting to commit a 
•criminal offense. He also upon complaint can issue his warrant for the 
arrest of any person accused of having committed a crime, and have him 
brought before him for examination. 

COUNTY COURTS 

Have jurisdiction in all matters of probate (except in counties having a 
population of one hundred thousand or over), settlement of estates of 
deceased persons, appointment of guardians and conservators, and settle- 
ment of their accounts ; all matters relating to apprentices ; proceedings 
for the collection of taxes and assessments, and in proceedings of executors, 
administrators, guardians and conservators for the sale of real estate. In 
law cases they have concurrent jurisdiction with Circuit Courts in aU 
cases where justices of the peace now have, or hereafter may have, 
jurisdiction when the amount claimed shall not exceed $1,000, and in all 
criminal offenses where the punishment is not imprisonment in the peni- 
tentiary, or death, and in all cases of appeals from justices of the peace 
and police magistrates; excepting when the county judge is sitting as a 
justice of the peace. Circuit Courts have unlimited jurisdiction. 

LIMITATION OF ACTION. 

Accounts jive years. Notes and written contracts ,ten years. Judg- 
ments tiventy years. Partial payments or new promise in writing, within 
or after said period, will revive the debt. Absence from the State deducted, 
and when the cause of action is barred by the law of another State, it has 
the same effect here. Slander and libel, one year. Personal injuries, two 
years. To recover hind or make entry thereon, twenty years. Action to 
foreclose mortgage or trust deed, or make a sale, within ten years. 

All persons in possession of land, and paying taxes for seven consecu- 
tive years, with color of title, and all persons paying taxes for seven con- 
secutive years, with color of title, on vacant land, shall be held to be the 
legal owners to the extent of their paper title. 

MARRIED WOMEN 

May sue and be sued. Husband and wife not liable for each other's debts, 
■either before or after marriage, but both are liable for expenses and edu- 
cation of the family. 



156 ABSTRACT OF ILLIXOIS STATE LAWS. 

She may contract the same as if unmarried, excej)t that in a partner- 
ship business she can not, without consent of her husband, unless he has 
abandoned or deserted her, or is idiotic or insane, or confined in peniten- 
tiary ; she is entitled and can recover her own earnings, but neither hus- 
band nor wife is entitled to compensation for any services rendered for the 
other. At the death of the husband, in addition to widow's award, a 
married woman has a dower interest (one-third) in all real estate owned 
by her husband after their marriage, and wliich has not been released by 
her, and the husband has the same interest in the real estate of the wife 
at her death. 

EXEMPTIONS FROM FORCED SALE. 

Some worth $1,000, and the following Personal Property : Lot of ground 
and buildings thereon, occupied as a residence by the debtor, being a house- 
holder and having a family, to the value of fl,000. Exemption continues- 
after the death of the householder for the benefit of widow and family, some 
one of them occupying the homestead until youngest child shall become 
twenty-one years of age, and until death of widow. There is no exemption 
from sale for taxes, assessments, debt or liability incurred for the purchase 
or improvement of said homestead. No release or waiver of exemption is 
valid, unless in writing, and subscribed by such liouseholder and wife (if 
he have one), and acknowledged as conveyances of real estate are required 
to be acknowledged. The folloioing articles of personal property owned 
by the debtor, are exempt from execution, ivrit of attachment, and distress 
for rent : The necessary wearing apparel. Bibles, school books and family 
pictures of every person ; and, 2d, one hundred dollars worth of other 
property to be selected by the debtor, and, in addition, when the debtor 
is the head of a family and resides with the same, three hundred dollars 
worth of other property to be selectedby the debtor; provided that such 
selection and exemj)tion shall not be made by the debtor or allowed to 
him or her from any money, salary or wages due him or her from anjr 
person or persons or corporations whatever. 

When the head of a family shall die, desert or not reside with the 
same, the family shall be entitled to and receive all the benefit and priv- 
ileges which are by this act conferred upon, the head of a family residing 
with the same. No personal property is exempt from execution when 
judgment is obtained for the wages of laborers or servants. Wages of a 
laborer who is the head of a family can not be garnisheed, except the sum 
due him be in excess of $25. 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 157 

DEEDS AND MORTGAGES. 

To he valid there must he a valid consideration. Special care should 
be taken to have them signed, sealed, delivered, and properly acknowl- 
edged, with the proper seal attached. Witnesses are not required. The 
acknowledgement must be made in this state, before Master in Chancery, 
Notary Public, United States Commissioner, Circuit or County Clerk, Justice 
of Peace, or any Court of Record having a seal, or any Judge, Justice, or 
Clerk of any such Court. When taken before a Notary Public, or United 
States Commissioner, the same shall be attested by his official seal, wlien 
taken before a Court or the Clerk thereof, the same shall be attested by 
the seal of such Court, and when taken before a Justice of the Peace resid- 
ing out of the county where the real estate to be conveyed lies, there shall 
be added a certificate of the County Clerk under his seal of office, that he 
zvas a Justice of the Peace in the county at the time of taking the same. 
A deed is good without such certificate attaclied, but can not be used in 
evidence unless such a certificate is produced or other competent evidence 
introduced. Acknowledgements made out of the state must either be 
executed according to the laws of this state, or there should be attached 
a certificate that it is in conformity with the laws of the state or country 
where executed. Where this is not done the same may be proved by any 
other legal way. Acknowledgments where the Homestead rights are to 
be waived must state as follows : " Including the release and waiver of 
the right of homestead." 

Notaries Public can take acknowledgements any where in the state. 

Sheriffs, if authorized by the mortgagor of real or personal property 
in his mortgage, may sell the property mortgaged. 

In the case of the death of grantor or holder of the equity of redemp- 
tion of real estate mortgaged, or conveyed by deed of trust where equity 
of redemption is waived, and it contains power of sale, must be foreclosed 
in the same manner as a common mortgage in court. 

ESTRAYS. 

Morses, mules, asses, neat cattle, swine, sheep, or goats found straying 
at any time during the year, in counties where such aninials are not allowed 
to run at large, or between the last day of October and the 15th day of 
April in other counties, the oioner thereof being unknown, may be taken up 
as estrays. 

No person not a householder in the county where estray is found can 
lawfully take up an estray, and then only upon or about his farm or place 
of residence. Estrays should not be used before advertised, except animals 
giving milk, which may be milked for their benefit. 



158 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

Notices must be posted up within five (5) days in three (3) of the 
most public phices in the town or {jreeinct in which estray was fouml, giv- 
ing the residence of the talker up, and a particuhir description of the 
estray, its age, color, and marks natural and artificial, and stating before 
what justice of the peace in such town or preeinct, and at what time, not 
less than ten (10) nor more than fifteen (15) days from the time of post- 
ing such notices, he will apply to have the estray appraised. 

A copy of such notice should be filed by the taker up with the toivn 
clerk, whose duty it is to enter the same at large, in a hook kept by him 
for that purpose. 

If the oivner of estray shall not have appeared and proved ownership, 
and taken the same away, first paying the taker up his reasonable charges 
for taking up, keeping, and advertisiug the same, the taker up sliall appear 
before the justice of the peace mentioned in above mentioned notice, and 
make an affidavit as required by law. 

As the affidavit has to be made before the Justice, and all other steps as 
to appraisement, etc., are before him, wlio is familiar therewith, they are 
therefore omitted here. 

Any person taking up an estray at any other place than about or 
upon his farm or residence, or without complying with the law, shall forfeit 
and pay a fine of ten dollars with costs. 

Ordinary diligence is required in taking care of estrays, but in case 
they die or get away the taker is not liable for the same. 

GAME. 

It is unlauful for any person to kill, or attempt to kill or destroy, in 
any manner, any prairie hen or chicken or u'oodcock between the 15th day 
of January and the 1st day of September ; or any deer, fawn, wild-turkey, 
partridge or pheasant between the 1st day of February and the 1st day 
of October ; or any quail between the 1st day of February and 1st da}- of 
November ; or any wild goose, duck, snipe, brant or other water fowl 
between the 1st day of Maj^ and 15th day of August in eacli year. 
Penalty : Fine not less than $5 nor more than $25, for each bird or 
animal, and costs of suit, and stand committed to county jail tintil fine is 
paid, but not exceeding ten days. It is unlauful to hunt with gun, dog 
or net within the inclosed grounds or lands of another without permission. 
Penalty: Fine not less than $3 nor more than $100, to be paid into 
school fund. 

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 

Whenever any of the following articles shall be contracted for, or 
sold or delivered, and no special contract or agreement shall be made to 
the contrary, the weight per bushel shall be as follows, to-wit : 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATK LAWS. 



159 





Pounds. 




Pounds. 


Stone Coal, 


- 80 


Buckwheat, - 


- 52 


Unslaeked Lime, 


- 80 


Coarse Salt, 


- 50 


Corn in the ear. 


- 70 


Barley, - - - 


- 48 


Wheat. 


- 60 


Corn Meal, 


- 48 


Irish Potatoes, 


- 60 


Castor Beans, 


- 46 


White Beans, 


- 60 


Timothy Seed, - 


- 45 


Clover Seed, - 


- 60 


Hemp Seed, - 


- 44 


Onions, - - - 


- 57 


Malt, - - - - 


- 38 


Shelled Corn, 


- 56 


Dried Peaches, 


- 33 


Rve, - - - - 


- 56 


Oats, - - - - 


- 32 


Flax Seed, - 


- 56 


Dried Apples, 


- 24 


Sweet Potatoes, - 


- 55 


Bran, - - - - 


- 20 


Turnips. 


- 55 


Blue Grass Seed, - 


- 14 


Fine Salt, - 


55 


Hair (plastering). 


8 



Penalty for giving less than the above standard is double the amount 
of property wrongfully not given, and ten dollars addition thereto. 



MILLERS. 

The owner or occupant of every public grist mill in this state shall 
grind all grain brought to his mill in its turn. The toll for both steam 
and water mills, is, for grinding and bolting ivheat, rye, or other grain, one 
eighfh part; for grinding Indian corn, oats, barley and buckwJieat not 
required to be bolted, one seventh part; for grinding malt, and chopping nil 
kinds of grain, one eighth part. It is the duty of every miller when his 
mill is in repair, to aid and assist in loading and unloading all grain brought 
to him to be ground, and he is also required to keep an accurate half 
bushel measure, and an accurate set of toll dishes or scales for weighing 
the grain. The penalty for neglect or refusal to comply with the law is 
$5, to the use of any person to sue for the same, to be recovered before 
any justice of the peace of the county where penalty is incurred. Millers 
are accountable for the safe keeping of all grain left in his mill for the 
purpose of being ground, with bags or casks containing same (except it 
results from unavoidable accidents), provided that such bags or casks are 
distinctly marked with the initial letters of the owner's name. 

MARKS AND BRANDS. 

Owners of cattle, horses, hogs, sheep or goats may have one ear mark 
and one brand, but which shall be different from his neighbor's, and maj- 
be recorded by the count}' clerk of the countj^ in which such property is 
kept. The fee for such record is fifteen cents. The record of such shall 
be open to examination free of charge. In cases of disputes as to marks 
or bra.r}ds such record, is vrima facie evidence. Owners of cattle, horses, 
hogs, sheep or goats that may have been branded by the former ojvner. 



160 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

may be re-branded in presence of one or more of his neighbors, who shall 
certify to the facts of the marking or branding being done, when done, 
and in what brand or mark they were re-branded or re-marked, which 
certificate may also be recorded as before stated. 

ADOPTION OF CHILDREN. 

Children may be adopted by any resident of this state, by filing a 
petition in the Circuit or County Court of the county in which he resides, 
asking leave to do so, and if desired may ask that the name of the child 
be changed. Such petition, if made by a person having a husband or 
Avife, will not be granted, unless the husband or wife joins therein, as the 
adoption must be by them jointly. 

The petition shall state name, sex, and age of the child, and the new 
name, if it is desired to change the name. Also the name and residence 
of the parents of the child, if known, and of the guardian, if any, and 
whether the parents or guardians consent to the adoption. 

The court must find, before granting decree, that the parents of the 
child, or the survivoi's of them, have deserted his or her family or such 
child for one j^ear next j^receding the application, or if neither are living, 
the guardian ; if no guardian, the next of kin in this state capable of giving 
consent, has had notice of the presentation of the petition and consents 
to such adoption. If the child is of the age oi fourteen years or upwards, 
the adoption can not be made without its consent. 

SURVEYORS AND SURVEYS. 

There is in every county elected a surveyor known as county sur- 
veyor, who has power to appoint deputies, for whose official acts he is 
responsible. It is the duty of the comity surveyor, either by himself or 
his deputy, to make all surveys that he may be called upon to make within 
his county as soon as may be after application is made. The necessary 
chainmen and other assistance must be employed by the person requiring 
the same to be done, and to be by him paid, unless otherwise agreed ; but 
the chainmen must be disinterested persons and approved by the surveyor 
and sworn by him to measure justly and impartially. 

The County Fxnird in each county is required In- law to provide a copy 
of the United States field notes and plats of their surveys of the lands 
in the county to be kept in the recorder's office subject to examination 
by the public, and the county surveyor is required to make his surveys 
in conformity to said notes, plats and the laws of the United States gov- 
erning such matters. The surveyor is also required to keep a record 
of all surveys made by him, which shall be subject to inspection by any 
one interested, and shall be delivered up to his successor in office. A. 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 161 

certified copy of the said surveyor's record shall be prima facie evidence 
of its contents. 

The fees of county surveyors ai-e six dollars per day. The county 
surveyor is also ex officio inspector of mines, and as such, assisted by some 
practical miner selected by him, shall once each year inspect all the 
mines in the county, for which they shall each receive such compensa- 
tion as may be fixed by the County Board, not exceeding $5 a day, to 
be paid out of the county treasury- 

ROADS AND BRIDGES. 

Where practicable from the nature of the ground, persons traveling- 
in any kind of vehicle, must turn to the right of the center of the road, se- 
as to permit each carriage to pass without interfering with each other. 
The penalty for a violation of this provision is $5 for every offense, to- 
be recovered by the party injured ; but to recover, there must have 
occurred some injury to person or property resulting from the violation^ 
The owners of any carriage traveling upon any road in this State for the 
conveyance of passengers who shall employ or continue in his employment, 
as driver any person who is addicted to drunkenness, or the excessive use of 
spiritous liquors, after he has had notice of the same, shall forfeit, at the 
rate of -$5 per da}', and if any driver while actually engaged in driving^ 
any such carriage, shall be guilty of intoxication to such a degree as to- 
endanger the safety of passengers, it shall be the duty of the owner, on 
receiving written notice of the fact, signed by one of the passengers, and 
certified by him on oath, forthwith to discharge such driver. If such owner 
shall have such driver in his employ ivithin three months after such notice,, 
he is liable for $5 per day for the time he shall keep said driver in his 
employment after receiving such notice. 

Persons driving any carriage on any public highway are prohibited 
from running their horses upon any occasion under a penalty of a fine not 
exceeding $10, or imprisonment not exceeding sixty days, at the discre- 
tion of the court. Horses attached to any carriage used to convey passen- 
gers for hire must be properly hitched or the lines placed in the hands of 
some other person before the driver leaves them for any puri:)ose. For 
violation of this provision each driver shall forfeit twenty dollars, to be 
recovered by action, to be commenced within six months. It is under- 
stood b}' the term carriage herein to mean any carriage or vehicle used 
for the transportation of passengers or goods or either of them. 

The commissioners of highways in the different tov/ns have the care 
and superintendence of highways and bridges therein. They have alt 
the powers necessary to lay out, vacate, regulate and repair all roadsv 
build and repair bridges. ' In addition to the above, it is their duty ta 
erect and keep in repair at the forks or crossing-place of the most 



162 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

important roads post and guide boards with plain inscriptions, giving 
directions and distances to the most noted places to which such road may 
lead; also to make provisions to prevent thistles, burdock, and cockle 
burrs, mustard, yellow dock, Indian mallow and jimson weed from 
seeding, and to extirpate the same as far as practicable, and to prevent 
all rank growth of vegetation on the public highways so far as the same 
may obstruct public travel, and it is in their discretion to erect watering 
places for public use for watering teams at such points as may be deemed 
advisable. 

The Commissioners, on or before the 1st day of May of each year, 
shall make out and deliver to their treasurer a list of all able-bodied men 
in their town, excepting paupers, idiots, lunatics, and such others as are 
exempt by law, and assess against each the sum of two dollars as a poll 
tax for highway purposes. Within thirty days after such list is delivered 
they shall cause a written or printed notice to be given to each j^erson so 
assessed, notifying him of the time when and place where such tax must 
be paid, or its equivalent in labor performed ; they may contract with 
persons owing such poll tax to perform a certain amount of labor on any 
Toad or bridge in payment of the same, and if such tax is not paid nor 
labor performed by the first Monday of July of such j'ear, or within ten 
days after notice is given after that time, they shall bring suit therefor 
against such person before a justice of the peace, who shall hear and 
determine the case according to law for the offense complained of, and 
shall forthwith issue an execution, directed to any constable of the county 
where the delinquent shall reside, who shall fortliwith collect the moneys 
therein mentioned. 

The Commissioners of Highways of each town shall annually ascer- 
tain, as near as practicable, how much money must be raised b}' tax on real 
and personal property for the making and repairing of roads, only, to any 
.amount they may deem necessary, not exceeding forty cents on each one 
hundred dollars' worth, as valued on the assessment roll of the previous 
year. The tax so levied on property lying witliin an incorporated village, 
town or city, shall be paid over to the corporate authorities of such town, 
village or city. Commissioners shall receive $1.50 for each day neces- 
sarily employed in the discharge of their duty. 

Overseers. At the first meeting the Commissioners shall choose one 
of their number to act General Overseer of Highways in tlieir townsliip, 
whose duty it shall be to take charge of and safely keep all tools, imple- 
ments and machinery belonging to said town, and shall, by the direction 
•of the Board, have general supervision of all roads and bridges in their 
town. 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 163 

As all township and county officers are familiar Avith their duties, it 
is only intended to give the points of the law that the public should be 
familiar with. The manner of laying out, altering or vacating roads, ete.^ 
will not be here stated, as it would require more space than is contem- 
plated in a work of this kind. It is sufficient to state that, tlie first step 
is by petition, addressed to the Commissioners, setting out what is prayed 
for, giving the names of the owners of lands if known, if not known so 
state, over which the road is to pass, giving the general course, its place 
of beginning, and where it terminates. It requires not less than twelve- 
freeholders residing within three miles of the road who shall sign the- 
petition. Public roads must not be less than fifty feet wide, nor more 
than sixty feet wide. Roads not exceeding two miles in length, if peti- 
tioned for, may be laid out, not less than forty feet. Private road& 
for jirivate and public use, may be laid out of the width of three rods, on 
petition of the person directly interested ; the damage occasioned thereby 
shall be paid by the premises benefited thereb}', and before the road is 
opened. If not opened in two years, the order shall be considered 
rescinded. Commissioners in their disci'etion may permit persons who- 
live on or have private roads, to work out their road tax thereon. Public 
roads must be opened in five days from date of filing order of location,, 
or be deemed vacated. 

DRAINAGE. 

Whenever one or more owners or occupants of land desire to construct 
I drain or ditch across the land of others for agricultural, sanitary or 
mlninci purposes, the proceedings are as follows : 

File a petition in the Circuit or County Court of the county in which 
the proposed ditch or drain is to be constructed, setting forth the neces- 
sity for the same, with a description of its proposed starting point, route 
and terminus, and if it shall be necessary for the drainage of the land or 
coal mines or for sanitary purposes, that a drain, ditch, levee or similar 
■work be constructed, a description of the same. It shall also set forth 
the names of all persons owning the land over which such drain or ditch 
shall be constructed, or if unknown stating that fact. 

No private property shall be taken or damaged for the purpose of 
constructing a ditch, drain or levee, without compensation, if claimed by 
the owner, the same to be ascertained by a jury; but if the construction 
of such ditch, drain or levee shall be a benefit to the owner, the same 
shall be a set off against such compensation. 

If the proceedings seek to affect the property of a minor, lunatic or 
married woman, the guardian, conservator or husband of the same shall 
be made party defendant. The petition may be amended and parties 
made defendants at any time when it is necessary to a fair trial. 



16 i ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

When the petition is presented to the judge, he shall note therein 
when he will hear the same, and order the issuance of summonses and 
the publication of notice to each non-resident or unknown defendant. 

The petition may be heard by such judge in vacation as well as in 
term time. Upon the trial, the jury shall ascertain the just compensation 
to each owner of the property sought to be damaged by the construction 
of such ditch, drain or levee, and truly report the same. 

As it is only contemplated in a work of this kind to give an abstract 
of the laws, and as the parties who have in charge the execution of the 
further proceedings are likely to be familiar with the requirements of the 
statute, the necessary details are not here inserted. 

WOLF SCALPS. 

The County Board of any county in this State may hereafter allow 
such bounty on wolf scalps as the board may deem reasonable. 

Any person claiming a bounty shall produce the scalp or scalps with 
the ears thereon, within sixty days after the wolf or wolves shall have 
been caught, to the Clerk of the County Board, who shall administer to 
said person the following oath or affirmation, to- wit: "You do solemnly 
swear (or affirm, as the case may be), that the scalp or scalps here pro- 
<luced by you was taken from a wolf or wolves killed and first captured 
by yourself within the limits of this county, and within the sixty days 
last past." 

CONVEYANCES. 

When the reversion expectant on a lease of any tenements or here- 
ditaments of any tenure shall be surrendered or merged, the estate which 
shall for the time being confer as against the tenant under the same lease 
the next vested right to the same tenements or hereditaments, shall, to 
the extent and for the purpose of preserving such incidents to and obli- 
gations on the same reversion, as but for the surrender or merger thereof, 
would have subsisted, be deemed the reversion expectant on the same 
lease. 

PAUPERS. 

Every poor person who shall be unable to earn a livelihood in conse- 
quence ot any bodily infirmity, idiocy, lunacy or unavoidahle cause, shall 
be supported by the father, grand-father, mother, grand-mother, children, 
grand-children, brothers or sisters of such poor person, if they or either 
of them be of sufficient ability; l)ut if any of such dependent class shall 
have become so from intemperance or other had conduct, they shall not be 
entitled to support from any relation except parent or child. 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 167 

The children shall first be called on to support their parents, if they 
are able ; but if not, the parents of such poor person shall then be called 
on, if of sufficient ability ; and if there be no parents or children able, 
then the brothers and sisters of such dependent person shall be called 
upon ; and if there be no brothers or sisters of sufficient ability, the 
grand-children of such person shall next be called on ; and if they are 
not able, then the grand-parents. Married females, while their husbands 
live, shall not be liable to contribute for the support of their poor relations 
except out of their separate property. It is the duty of the state's 
(county) attorney, to make complaint to the County Court of his county 
against all the relatives of such paupers in this state liable to his support 
and prosecute the same. In case the state's attorney neglects, or refuses, to 
complain in such cases, then it is the duty of the overseer of the poor to 
do so. The person called upon to contribute shall have at least ten days' 
notice of such application by summons. The court has the power to 
determine the kind of support, depending upon the circumstances of the 
parties, and ma}' also order two or more of the different degrees to main- 
tain such poor person, and prescribe the proportion of each, according to 
their ability. The court may specify the time for which the relative shall 
contribute — in fact has control over the entire subject matter, with power 
to enforce its orders. Every county (except those in which the poor are 
supported by the towns, and in such cases the towns are liable) is required 
to relieve and support all poor and indigent persons lawfully resident 
therein. Residence means the actual residence of the party, or the place 
where he was employed ; or in case he was in no employment, then it 
shall be the place where he made his home. When any person becomes 
chargeable as a pauper in any county or town who did not reside at the 
commencement of six months immediately preceding his becoming so, 
but did at that time reside in some other county or town in this state, 
then the county or town, as the case may be, becomes liable for the expense 
of taking care of such person until removed, and it is the duty of the 
overseer to notify the proper authorities of the fact. If any person shall 
bring and leave any pauper in any county in this state where such pauper 
had no legal residence, knowing him to be such, he is liable to a fine of 
$100. In counties under township organization, the supervisors in each 
town are ex-officio overseers of the poor. The overseers of the poor act 
under the directions of the County Board in taking care of the poor and 
granting of temporary relief; also, providing for non-resident persons not 
paupers who may be taken sick and not able to pay their way, and in case 
of death cause such person to be decently buried. 

The residence of the inmates of poorhouses and other charitable 
institutions for voting purposes is their former place of abode. 



16» ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

FENCES. 

In counties under township organization, the town assessor and com- 
missioner of highways are the fence-viewers in their respective towns. 
In other counties the County Board appoints three in each precinct annu- 
all}". A lau'ful fence \^ four and one-half feet /w'^/i, in good repair, con- 
sisting of rails, timber, boards, stone, hedges, or whatever the fence- 
viewers of the town or precinct where the same shall lie, shall consider 
equivalent thereto, but in counties under township organization the annual 
town meeting may establish any other kind of fence as such, or the County 
Board in other counties may do the same. Division fences shall be made 
and maintained in just proportion by the adjoining owners, except when 
the owner shall choose to let his land lie open, but after a division fence is 
built by agreement or otherwise, neither party can remove his part of such 
fence so long as he may crop or use such land for farm purposes, or without 
giving the other part}' one year's notice in writing of his intention to remove 
his portion. When any person shall enclose his land upon the enclosure 
of another, he shall refund the owner of tlie adjoining lands a just pro- 
portion of the value at that time of such fence. The value of fence and 
the just proportion to be paid or built and maintained b^' each is to be 
ascertained by two fence-viewers in the town or precinct. Such fence- 
viewers have power to settle all disputes between different owners as to 
fences built or to be built, as well as to repairs to be made. Each party 
chooses one of the viewers, but if the other party neglects, after eight 
days' notice in writing, to make his choice, then the other party may 
select both. It is sufficient to notify tlie tenant or party in possession, 
when the owner is not a resident of the town or precinct. The two 
fence-viewers chosen, after viewing the premises, shall hear the state- 
ments of the parties , in case they can't agree, they shall select another 
fence-viewer to act with them, and the decision of any two of them is 
final. The decision must be reduced to writing, and should plainly set 
out description of fence and all matters settled by them, and must be 
filed in the office of the town clerk in counties under township organiza- 
tion, and in otiier counties with the county clerk. 

Where any person is liable to contribute to the erection or the 
repairing of a division fence, neglects or refuses so to do, the party 
injured, after giving sixty days notice in writing when a fence is to be 
erected, or ten days when it is only repairs, may proceed to have the 
work done at the expense of the party whose duty it is to do it, to be 
recovered from him with costs of suit, and the party so neglecting shall 
also be liable to the party injured for all damages accruing from such 
neglect or refusal, to be determined by any two fence-viewers selected 
as before provided, the ap])raisemeut to be reduced to writing and signed. 



ABSTRACT OP ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. IGk) 

Where a person shall conclude to remove his part of a division fence, 
and )et his land lie open, and having given the year's notice required, the 
adjoining owner may cause the value of said fence to be ascertained by 
fence-viewers as before provided, and on payment or tender of the 
amount of such valuation to the owner, it shall prevent the removal. A 
party removing a division fence without notice is liable for the damages 
accruing thereby. 

Where a fence has been built on the land of another through mis- 
take, the owner may enter upon such premises and remove his fence and 
material within oix months after the division line has been ascertained. 
Where the material to build such a fence has been taken from the land 
on which it was built, then before it can be removed, the person claiming 
must first pay for such material to the owner of the land from which it 
was taken, nor shall yuch a fence be removed at a time when the removal 
will throw open or expose the crops of the other partj^ ; a reasonable 
time must be given beyond the .six months to remove crops. 

The compensation of fence-viewers is one dollar and fifty cents a 
day each, to be paid in the first instance by the party calling them, but 
in the end all expenses, including amount charged by the fence-viewers, 
must be paid equally bj' the parties, except in cases where a party neglects 
or refuses to make or maintain a just proportion of a division fence, when 
the party in default shall p.iy them. 

DAMAGES FROM TRESPASS. 

Where stock of any kind breaks into any person's enclosure, the 
fence being good and sufficient, the owner is liable for the damage done ; 
but where the damage is done by stock runninc) at large, contrary to law, 
the owner is liable where thtire is not such a fence. Where stock is 
found trespassing on the enclosure of another as aforesaid, the owner or 
occupier of the premises may take possession of such stock and keep the 
same until damages, with reasonable charges for keeping and feeding and 
all costs of suit, are paid. Any person taking or rescuing such stock so 
held without his consent, shall be liable to a fine of not less than thi-ee 
nor more than five dollars for each animal rescued, to be recovered by 
suit before a justice of the peace for the use of the school fund. Within 
twentj'-four hours after taking such animal into his possession, the per- 
son taking it up must give notice of the fact to the owner, if known, or 
if unknown, notices must be posted in some public place near the premises. 

LANDLORD AND TENANT. 

The owner of lands, or his legal representatives, can sue for and 
recover rent therefor, in any of the following cases : 

First. When rent is due and in arrears on a lease for life or lives. 



170 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

Second. When lands are held and occupied by an}- person without 
any special agreement for rent. 

Third. When possession is obtained under an agreement, written 
or verbal, for the purchase of the premises and before deed given, the 
right to possession is terminated by forfeiture on con-complianee with the 
agreement, and possession is wrongfully refused or neglected to be giver, 
upon demand made in writing by the party entitled thereto. Provided 
that all payments made hj the vendee or his representatives or assigns, 
may be set off against the rent. 

Fourth. When land has been sold upon a judgment or a decree of 
court, when the party to such judgment or decree, or person holding under 
him, wrongfuU}' refuses, or neglects, to surrender possession of the same, 
after demand in writing by the person entitled to the possession. 

Fifth. When the lands have been sold upon a mortgage or trust 
deed, and the mortgagor or grantor or person holding tinder him, wrong- 
fully refuses or neglects to surrender possession of the same, after demand 
in writing by the person entitled to the possession. 

If any tenant, or any person who shall come into possession from or 
under or by collusion with such tenant, shall willfully hold over any lands, 
etc., after the expiration the term of their lease, and after demand made 
in writing for the possession thereof, is liable to pay double rent. A 
tenancy from }'ear to year requires sixty days notice in writing, to termi- 
nate the same at the end of the year ; such notice can be given at any 
time within four months preceding the last sixty days of the year. 

A teiuincy by the month, or less than a year, where the tenant holds 
over without any special agreement, the landlord may terminate the 
tenancy, by thirty days notice in writing. 

When rent is due, the landlord may serve a notice upon the tenant, 
stating that unless the rent is paid within not less than five days, his lease 
will be terminated ; if the rent is not paid, the landlord may consider the 
lease ended. When default is made in any of the terms of a lease, it 
shall not be necessary to give more than ten days notice to quit or of the 
termination of such tenancy ; and the same may be terminated on giving 
such notice to quit, at any time after such default in any of the terms of 
such lease ; which notice may be substantially in the following form, viz: 

To , You are hereby notified that, in consequence of your default 

in (here insert the character of the default), of the premises now occupied 
by you, being etc. (here describe tlie premises), I have elected to deter- 
mine your lease, and you are liereby notified to quit and deliver up pos- 
session of the same to me within ten days of this date (dated, etc.) 

The above to be signed by the lessor or his agent, and no other notice 
or demand of possession or termination of such tenancy is necessary. 

Demand may be made, or notice served, by delivering a written or 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 171 

pnnted, or partly either, cop\- thereof to the tenant, or leaving the same 
with some person above the age of twelve years residing on or in posses- 
sion of the premises ; and in case no one is in the actual possession of tlie 
said premises, then by posting the same on the premises. When the 
tenancy is for a certain time, and the term expires by the terms of the 
lease, the tenant is then bound to surrender possession, and no notice 
to quit or demand of possession is necessary'. 

Distress for rent. — In all cases of distress for rent, the landlord, by 
himself, his agent or attorney, may seize for rent any personal propert}^ of 
his tenant that may be found in the county where the tenant resides ; the 
property of any other person, even if found on the premises, is not 
iiable. 

An inventory of the property levied upon, with a statement of the 
amount of rent claimed, should be at once filed with some justice of the 
peace, if not over f 200 ; and if above that sum, with the clerk of a court 
of record of competent jurisdiction. Property may be released, by the 
party executing a satisfactory bond for double the amount. 

The landlord may distrain for rent, any time within six months after 
the expiration of the term of the lease, or when terminated. 

In all cases where the premises rented shall be sub-let, or the lease 
assigned, the landlord shall have the same right to enforce lien against 
such lessee or assignee, that he has against the tenant to whom the pre- 
mises were rented. 

When a tenant abandons or removes from the premises or any part 
thereof, the landlord, or his agent or attorney, may seize upon any grain 
or other crops grown or growing upon the premises, or part thereof so 
abandoned, whetlier the rent is due or not. If such grain, or other crops, 
or any part thereof, is not fully grown or matured, the landlord, or his 
agent or attorney, shall cause the same to be properly cultivated, harvested 
or gathered, and may sell the same, and from the proceeds pay all his 
labor, expenses and rent. The tenant may, before the sale of such pro- 
perty, redeem the same by tendering the rent and reasonable compensation 
for work done, or he may replevy the same. 

Exemption. — The same articles of personal property which are bylaw 
exempt from execution, except the crops as above stated, is also exempt 
from distress for rent. 

If any tenant is about to or shall permit or attempt to sell and 
remove from the premises, without the consent of his landlord, such 
portion of the crops raised thereon as will endanger the lien of the land- 
lord upon such crops, for the rent, it shall be lawful for the landlord to 
distress before I'ent is due. 



172 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

LIENS. 

Any person who shall by contract, express or implied, or partly both, 
with the owner of any lot or tract of land, furnish labor or material, or 
services as an architect or superintendent, in building, altering, repairing 
or ornamenting any house or other building or appurtenance thereto on 
such lot, or upon any street or alley, and connected with such improve- 
ments, shall have a lien upon the whole of such lot or tract of land, and 
upon sucli house or building and appurtenances, for the amount due to 
him for such labor, material or services. If the contract is expressed, and 
the time for the completion of the work is bejfond three years from the com- 
mencement thereof; or, if the time of payment is beyond one year from 
the time stipulated for the completion of the work, then no lien exists. 
If the contract is implied, then no lien exists, unless the work be done or 
material is furnished within one year from the commencement of the work 
or delivery of the materials. As between different creditors having liens, 
no preference is given to the one whose contract was first made : but each 
shares pro-rata. Incumbrances existing on the lot or tract of the land at 
the time the contract is made, do not operate on the improvements, and 
are only preferred to the extent of the value of the land at the time of 
making the contract. The above lien can not be enforced unless s^iit is 
commenced within six months after the last payment for labor or materials 
shall have become due and payable. Sub-contractors, mechanics, workmen 
and otiier persons furnishing any material, or performing uny labor for a 
contractor as before specified, have a lien to the extent of the amount due 
the contractor at the time the following notice is served upon the owner 
of the land who made the contract: 

To , You are hereby notified, that I have been employed by- 



(here state whether to labor or furnish material, and substantially the 
nature of the demand') upon your (here state in general terms description 
and situation of building), and that I shall hold the (building, or as the 
case may be), and your interest in the ground, liable for the amount tiiat 

may (is or may become) due me on account thereof. Signature, 

Date, 

If there is a contract in writing between contractor and sub-contractor, 
a copy of it should be served with above notice, and said notice must be 
served within forty days from the completion of such sub-contract, if there 
is one ; if not, then from the time payment should have been made to the 
person performing the labor or furnishing the material. If the owner is 
not a resident of the covuity, or can not be found therein^ then the above 
notice must be filed with the clerk of the Circuit Court, with his fee, fifty 
cents, and a copy of said notice must be published in a newspaper pub- 
lished in the county, for four successive weeks. 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. IT 3 

When the owner or agent is notified as above, he can retain any 
money due the contractor sufficient to pay such claim ; if more than one 
claim, and not enough to pay all, they are to be paid pro rata. 

The owner has the right to demand in writing, a statement of the 
contractor, of what he owes for labor, etc., from time to time as the work 
progresses, and on his failure to comply, forfeits to the owner -$50 for 
every offense. 

The liens referred to cover any and all estates, whether in fee for 
life, for years, or any other interest which the- owner may have. 

To enforce the lien of sub-contractors, suit must be commenced within 
three months from the time of the performance of the sub-contract, or 
during the work or furnishing materials. 

Rotel, inn and hoarding-house keepers, have a lien upon the baggage 
and other valuables of their guests or boarders, brought into such hotel, 
inn or boarding-house, by their guests or boarders, for the proper charges 
due from such guests or boarders for their accommodation, board and 
lodgings, and such extras as are furnished at their request. 

Stable-keepers and other persons have a lien upon the horses, car- 
riages and harness kept by them, for the proper charges due for the keep- 
ing thereof and expenses bestowed thereon at the request of the owner 
or the person having the possession of the same. 

Agisters (persons who take care of cattle belonging to others), and 
persons keeping, yarding, feeding or pasturing domestic animals, shall 
have a lien upon the animals agistered, kept, yarded or fed, for the proper 
charges due for such service. 

All persons who may furnish any railroad corporation in this state 
with fuel, ties, material, supplies or any other article or thing necessary 
for the construction, maintenance, operation or repair of its road by con- 
tract, or may perform work or labor on the same, is entitled to be paid as 
part of the current expenses of the road, and have a lien upon all its pro- 
perty. Sub-contiactors or laborers have also a lien. The conditions and 
limitations both as to contractors and sub-contractors, are about the same 
as herein stated as to general liens. 

DEFINITION OF COMMERCIAL TERMS. 

f means dollars, being a contraction of U. S., which was formerly 

placed before any denomination of money, and meant, as it means now, 
United States Currency. 

£ means pounds, English money. 

@ stands for at or to. ft iov. pound, and bbl. for barrel; '^ for per or 
% the. Thus, Butter sells at 20 (o 30c f ft, and Flour at $8(312 f bbl. 

/i for per cent and iJ for number. 

May 1. — Wheat sells at $1. 20(3-1. 25, "seller June." Seller June 



ll'4 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

means that the person wlio sells the wheat has the privilege of delivering 
it at any time during the month of June. 

Selling s?io}-t, is contracting to deliver a certain amount of grain or 
slock, at a fixed price, within a certain length of time, when the seller 
has not the stock on hand. It is for the interest of the person selling 
"short," to depress the market as much as possible, in order that he may 
buy and fill his contract at a profit. Hence the " shorts " are termed 
" bears." 

Buying long, is to contract to pui'chase a certain amount of grain or 
shares of stock at a fixed price, deliverable within a stipulated time, 
expecting to make a profit by the rise of prices. The "longs" are 
termed "bulls," as it is for their interest to " operate " so as to "toss" 
the prices upward as much as possible. 

NOTES. 

Form of note is legal, worded in the simplest way, so that the 
amount and time of payment are mentioned. 

$100. Chicago, 111., Sept. 15, 1876. 

Sixty days from date I promise to pay to E. F. Brown, 
or order. One Hundred dollars, for value received. 

L. D. LowKY. 
A note to be payable in any thing else than money needs only the 
facts substituted for money in the above form. 

ORDERS. 

Orders should be worded simply, thus : 

Mr. F. H. Coats: Chicago, Sept. 15, 1876. 

Please pay to H. Birdsall, Twenty-five dollars, and charge to 

F. D. Silva. 

RECEIPTS. 

Receipts should always state when received and what for, thus : 

flOO. Chicago, Sept. 15, 1876. 

Received of J. W. Davis, One Hundred dollars, for services 
rendered in grading his lot in Fort Madison, on account. 

Thomas Brady. 
If receij)t is in full it should be so stated. 

BILLS OF PURCHASE. 

W. N. Mason. Salem. Illinois, Sept. 15, 1876. 

Bought of A. A. Graham. 

4 Bushels of Seed Wheat', at *1.50 - - - - ftj.OO' 

2 Seamless Sacks " .'-^0 - ' - .60 



I 



Received payment, $6.60 

A. A. Graham. 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 176 

ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT. 

An agreement is where one party promises to another to do a certain 
thing in a certain time for a stipulated sum. Good business men always 
reduce an agreement to writing, which nearly always saves misunder- 
standings and trouble. No particular form is necessary, but the facts must 
be clearly and explicitly stated, and there must, to make it valid, be a 
reasonable consideration. 

GENERAL FORM OF AGREEMENT. 

This Agreement, made the Second day of October, 1876, between 
John Jones, of Aurora, County of Kane, State of Illinois, of the first part, 
and Thomas Whiteside, of the same place, of the second part — 

AViTNESSETH, that the said John Jones, in consideration of the agree- 
ment of the party of the second part, hereinafter contained, contracts and 
agrees to and with the said Thomas Whiteside, that he will deliver, in 
good and marketable condition, at the Village of Batavia, 111., during the 
month of November, of this year. One Hundred Tons of Prairie Hay, in 
the following lots, and at the following specified times ; namely, twenty- 
five tons by the seventh of November, twenty-five tons additional by the 
fourteenth of the month, twenty-five tons more by the twenty-first, and 
the entire one hundred tons to be all delivered by the thirtieth of 
November. 

And the said Thomas Whiteside, in consideration of the prompt 
fulfillment of this contract, on the part of the party of the first part, 
contracts to and agrees with the said John Jones, to pay for said hay five 
dollars per ton, for each ton as soon as delivered. 

In case of failure of agreement by either of the parties hereto, it is 
hereby stipulated and agreed that the party so failing shall pay to the 
other. One Hundred Dollars, as fixed and settled damages. 

In witness whereof, we have hei'eunto set our hands the day and 
year first above written. John Jones, 

Thomas Whiteside. 

AGREEMENT WITH CLERK FOR SERVICES. 

This Agreement, made the first day of May, one thousand eight 
hundred and seventy-six, between Reuben Stone, of Chicago, County 
of Cook, State of Illinois, party of the first part, and George Barclay, of 
Englewood, County of Cook, State of Illinois, party of the second part — 

WITNESSETH, that said George Barclay agrees faithfully and dili- 
gently to work as clerk and salesman for the said Reuben Stone, for 
and during the space of one year from the date hereof, should both 
live such length of time, without absenting himself from his occupation; 



17(3 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

during which time he, the said Barclay, in tlie store of said Stone, of 
Chicago, will carefully and honestly attend, doing and performing all 
duties as clerk and salesman aforesaid, in accordance and in all respects 
as directed and desired b}' the said Stone. 

In consideration of which services, so to be rendered by tlie said 
Barclay, the said Stone agrees to pay to said Barclay the annual sum of 
one thousand dollars, f)ayable in twelve equal monthly payments, each 
upon the last day of each month ; provided that all dues for days of 
absence from business b}* said Barclay, shall be deducted from the sum 
otherwise by the agreement due and payable by the said Stone to the said 
Barclay. 

Witness our hands. Reuben Stone. 

George Barclay. 

BILLS OF SALE. 

A bill of sale is a written agreement to another party, for a consider- 
ation to conjrey his right and interest in the personal property. The 
purchaser must take actual possession of the property. Juries have 
power to determine upon the fairness or unfairness of a bill of sale. 

COMMON FORM OF BILL OF SALE. 

Know all Men by this instrument, that I, Louis Clay, of Princeton, 
Illinois, of the first part, for and in consideration of Five Hundred 
and Ten dollars, to me paid by John Floyd, of the same place, of the 
second part, the receipt whereof is hereb\' acknowledged, have sold, and 
by this instrument do convey unto the said Floyd, party of the second 
part, his executors, administrators, and assigns, my undivided half of 
ten acres of corn, now growing on the farm of Thomas Tyrrell, in the 
town above mentioned ; one pair of horses, sixteen sheep, and five cows, 
belonging to me, and in my possession at the farm aforesaid ; to have and 
to hold the same unto the party of the second part, his executors and 
assigns, forever. And I do, for myself and legal representatives, agree 
with the said party of the second part, and his legal representatives, to 
warrant and defend the sale of the afore-mentioned pro])erty and chattels 
unto the said party of the second part, and liis legal repi'esentatives, 
against all and every person wliatsoever. 

In witness whereof, I have liereunto affixed my hand, this tenth day 
of October, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six. 

Louis Clay. 

BONDS. 

A bond is a written admission on tlie part of the maker in which he 
pledges a certain sum to another, at a certain time. 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 177 

COMMON FORM OF BOND. 

Know all Men by this instrument, that I, George Edgerton, of 
Watseka, Iroquois County, State of Illinois, am firmly bound unto Peter 
Kirchoff, of the place aforesaid, in the sum of five hundred dollars, to be 
paid to the said Peter Kirchoff, or his legal representatives ; to which 
payment, to be made, I bind myself, or my legal representatives, by this 
instrument. 

Sealed with my seal, and dated this second day of November, one 
thousand eight hundred and sixtj^-four. 

The condition of this bond is such that if I, George Edgerton, my 
heirs, administrators, or executors, shall promptly pay the sum of two 
hundred anct" fifty dollars in three equal annual payments from the date 
hereof, with annual interest, then the above obligation to be of no effect ; 
otherwise to be in full force and valid. 
Sealed and delivered in 

presence of George Edgerton. [l.s.] 

William Turner. * 

CHATTEL MORTGAGES. 

A chattel mortgage is a mortgage on personal property for payment 
of a certain sum of money, to hold the property against debts of other 
creditors. The mortgage must describe the property, and must be 
acknowledged before a justice of the peace in the township or precinct 
where the mortgagee resides, and entered upon his docket, and must be 
recorded in the recorder's office of the county. 

GENERAL FORM OF CHATTEL MORTGAGE. 

This Indenture, made and entered into this first day of January, 
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, 
between Theodore Lottinville, of the town of Geneseo in the County 
of Henry, and State of Illinois, party of the first part, and Paul Henshaw, 
of the same town, county, and State, partj'' of the second part. 

Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for and in consider- 
ation of the sum of one thousand dollars, in hand paid, the receipt whereof 
is hereby acknowledged, does hereby grant, sell, convey, and confirm unto 
the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever, all and 
singular the following described goods and chattels, to wit: 

Two three-year old roan-colored horses, one Burdett organ, No. 987, 
one Brussels carpet, 15x20 feet in size, one marble-top center table, one 
Home Comfort cooking stove. No. 8, one black walnut bureau with mirror 
attached, one set of parlor chairs (six in number), upholstered in green 
rep, with lounge corresponding with same in style and color of upholstery, 
now in possession of said Lottinville, at No. i Prairie Ave., Geueseo, III.; 



178 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

Together with all and singular, the appurtenances thereunto "belong- 
ing, or in any wise appertaining ; to have and to hold the above described 
goods and chattels, unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and 
assigns, forever. 

Provided, always, and these presents are upon this express condition, 
that if the said Theodore Lottinville, his heirs, executors, administrators, 
or assigns, shall, on or before the first day of January, A.D., one thousand 
eight hundred and seventy-six, pay, or cause to be paid, to the said Paul 
Ranslow, or his lawful attorney or attorneys, heirs, executors, adminis- 
trators, or assigns, the sum of One Thousand dollars, together with the 
interest that may accrue thereon, at the rate of ten per cent, per annum, 
from the first day of January, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and 
seventy-five, until paid, according to the tenor of one promissory note . 

bearing even date herewith for the payment of said sum of money, that 
then and from thenceforth, these presents, and everything herein con- 
tained, shall cease, and be null and void, anything herein contained to the 
contrary notwithstanding. 

Pi'ovided, also, that the said Theodore Lottinville may retain the 
possession of and have the use of said goods and chattels until the day 
of payment aforesaid ; and also, at his own expense, shall keep said goods 
and chattels; and also at the expiration of said time of payment, if said ■ 

sum of money, together with the interest as aforesaid, shall not be paid, 
shall deliver up said goods and chattels, in good condition, to said Paul 
Ranslow, or his heh-s, executors, administrators, or assigns. 

And provided, also, that if default in payment as aforesaid, by said 
party of the first part, sliall be made, or if said party of tlie second jiart , 

shall at any time before said promissory note becomes due, feel himself 
unsafe or insecure, that then the said party of the second part, or his 
attorney, agent, assigns, or heirs, executors, or administrators, shall have 
the right to take possession of said goods and chattels, wlierever they 
may or can be found, and sell the same at public or private sale, to the 
highest bidder for casii in hand, after giving ten days' notice of the time 
and place of said sale, together with a description of the goods and chat- 
tels to be sold, by at hsast four advertisements, posted up in public places 
in the vicinity where said sale is to take place, and proceed to make the 
sum of money and interest promised as aforesaid, together with all reason- 
able costs, charges, and expenses in so doing ; and if there shall be any 
overplus, shall pay the same without delay to the said party of the first 
part, or his legal representatives. 

In testimony whereof, the said party of tlie first part lias hereunto 
set his hand and affixed his seal, the day and year first abovte written. 
Signed, sealed and delivered in 

presence of Thkodouic Lottinville. [l.s.] 

Samuel J. Tilden. 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 179' 



LEASE OF FARM AND BUILDINGS THEREON. 

This Indenture, made this second day of June, 1875, between David 
Patton of the Town of Bisbee, State of Illinois, of the first part, and John 
Doyle c)f the same place, of the second part, 

Witnesseth, that the said David Patton, for and in consideration of 
the covenants hereinafter mentioned and reserved, on the part of the said 
John Doyle, his executors, administrators, and assigns, to be paid, kept, 
and performed, hath let, and b}' these presents doth grant, demise, and 
let, unto the said John Doyle, his executors, administrators, and assigns, 
all that parcel of land situate in Bisbee aforesaid, bounded and described 
as follows, to wit : 

\_IIere describe the latid.^ 

Together with all the appurtenances appertaining thereto. To have 
and to hold the said premises, with appurtenances thereto belonging, unto 
the said Doyle, his executors, administrators, and assigns, for the term of 
five years, from the first day of October next following, at a yearly rent 
of Six Hundred dollars, to be paid in equal payments, semi-annually, as 
long as said buildings are in good tenantable condition. 

And the said Do3'le, by these presents, covenants and agrees to pay 
all taxes and assessments, and keep in repair all hedges, ditches, rail, and 
other fences ; (the said 'David Patton, his heirs, assigns and administra- 
tors, to furnish all timber, brick, tile, and other materials necessary for 
such repairs.) 

Said Doyle further covenants and agrees to apply to said land, in a 
farmer-like manner, all manure and compost accumulating upon said 
farm, and cultivate all the arable land in a husbandlike manner, accord- 
ing to the usual custom among farmers in the neighborhood ; he also 
agrees to trim the hedges at a seasonable time, preventing injury from 
cattle to such hedges, and to all fruit and other trees on the said premises. 
That he will seed down with clover and timothy seed twenty acres yearly 
of arable land, ploughing the same number of acres each Spring of land 
now in grass, and hitherto unbroken. 

It is further agreed, that if the said Doyle shall fail to perform the 
whole or any one of the above mentioned covenants, then and in that 
case the said David Patton may declare this lease terminated, by giving 
three months' notice of the same, prior to the first of October of any 
year, and may distrain any part of the stock, goods, or chattels, or other 
property in possession of said Doyle, for sufficient to compensate for the 
non-jjerformance of the above written covenants, the same to be deter- 
mined, and amounts so to be paid to be determined, by three arbitrators,, 
chosen as follows; Each of the parties to this instrument to choose one. 



180 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

and the two so chosen to select fi third ; the decision of said arbitrators 
to be final. 

In witness whereof, we have hereto set our hands and seals. 
Signed, sealed, and delivered 

in presence of David Patton. [l.s.] 

James Waldron. John Doyle. [l.s.] 

FORM OF LEASE OF A HOUSE. 

This Instrument, made the first day of October, 1875, witnesseth 
that Amos Griest of Yorkville, County of Kendall, State of Illinois, hath 
rented from Aaron Young of Logansport aforesaid, the dwelling and lot 
No. 13 Ohio Street, situated in said City of Yorkville, for five years 
from the above date, at the yearly rental of Three Hundred dollars, pay- 
able monthly, on the first day of each month, in advance, at the residence 
of said Aaron Young. 

At the expiration of said above mentioned term, the said Griest 
agrees to give the said Young peaceable possession of the said dwelling, 
in as good condition as when taken, ordinary wear and casualties excepted. 

In witness whereof, we place our hands and seals the day and year 
aforesaid. 

Signed, sealed and delivered Amos Griest. [l.s.] 

in presence of 

NiCKOLAS SCHUTZ, ' AARON YoUNG. [L.S.] 

Notary Public. 

LANDLORD'S AGREEMENT. 

This certifies that I have let and rented, this first day of January, 
1876, unto Jacol) Schmidt, my house and lot, No. 15 Erie Street, in the 
City of Chicago, State of Illinois, and its appurtenances ; he to have the 
free and uninterrupted occupation thereof for one year from this date, at 
the yearly rental of Two Hundred dollars, to he paid monthh' in advance ; 
rent to cease if destroyed by fire, or otherwise made untenantable. 

Peter Funk. 
TENANT'S AGREEMENT. 

This certifies that I have hired and taken from Peter Funk, his 
house and lot. No. 15 Erie Street, in the City of Chicago, State of Illi- 
nois, with appurtenances thereto belonging, for one year, to commence 
this day, at a yearly rental of Two Hundred dollars, to be paid monthly 
in advance ; unless said house becomes untenantable from fire or otlier 
■causes, in which case rent ceases ; and I further agree to give and yield 
said premises one year from this first day of January 187<j, in as good 
condition as now, ordinary wear and damage by the elements excepted. 

Given under my hand this day. Jacob Schmidt. 



ABSTEACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 181 

NOTICE TO QUIT. 

To F. W. Arlek, 

Sir : Please observe that the term of one year, for which the house 

and land, situated at No. 6 Indiana Street, and now occupied by you^ 

were rented to you, expired on the first day of October, 1875, and as I 

desire to repossess said premises, you are hereby requested and required 

to vacate the same. Respectfullv Yours, 

P. T. Baenum. 

Lincoln, Neb., October 4, 1875. 

TENANT'S NOTICE OF LEAVING. 

Dear Sib : 

The premises I now occupy as your tenant, at No. 6 Indiana Street, 
I shall vacate on the first day of November, 1875. You will please take 
notice accordingly. 

Dated this tenth day of October, 1875. F. W. Arlen. 

To P. T. Barnum, Esq. 

REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE TO SECURE PAYMENT OF MONEY. 

This Indenture, made this sixteenth day of May, in the year of 
our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, between William 
Stocker, of Peoria, County of Peoria, and State of Illinois, and 011a, his 
wife, party of the first part, and Edward Singer, party of the second part. 

Whereas, the said party of the first part is justly indebted to the said 
party of tiie second part, in the sum of Two Thousand dollars, secured 
to be paid by two certain promissory notes (bearing even date herewith) 
the one due and payable at the Second National Bank in Peoria, Illinois, 
with interest, on the sixteenth day of May, in the year one thousand eight 
hundred and seventy-three ; the other due and payable at the Second 
National Bank at Peoria, 111., with interest, on the sixteenth day of May, 
in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four. 

Now, therefore, this indenture witnesseth, that the said party of the 
iirst part, for the better securing the payment of the money aforesaid, 
with interest thereon, according to the tenor and effect of the said two 
promissory notes above mentioned ; and, also in consideration of the fur- 
ther sum of one dollar to them in hand paid by the said party of the sec- 
ond part, at the delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby 
acknowledged, have granted, bargained, sold, and conveyed, and by these 
presents do grant, bargain, sell, and convey, unto the said party of the 
second part, his heirs and assigns, forever, all that certain parcel of land, 

situate, etc. 

[Describinff the premiseaJ] 
To have and to hold the same, together with all and singular the 
Tenements, Hereditaments, Privileges and Appurtenances thereunto 



182 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

belonging or in any wise appertaining. And also, all tlie estate, interest, 
and claim whatsoever, in law as well as in equity which the party of 
the first part have in and to the premises hereby conveyed unto the said 
party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, and to their only proper 
iise, benefit and behoof. And the said William Stocker, and Olla, his 
wife, party of the first part, hereby express!}' waive, relinquish, release, 
and convey unto the said party of the second part, his heirs, executors, 
administrators, and assigns, all right, title, claim, interest, and benefit 
whatever, in and to the above described premises, and each and every 
part thereof, which is given by or results from all laws of this state per- 
taining to the exemption of homesteads. 

Provided always, and these presents are upon this express condition, 
that if the said party of the first part, their heirs, executors, or adminis- 
trators, shall well and truly pay, or cause to be paid, to the said party of 
the second part, his heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, the afore- 
said sums of money, with such interest thereon, at the time and in the 
manner specified in the above mentioned promissory notes, according to 
the true intent and meaning thereof, then in that case, these presents and 
every thing herein expressed, shall be absolutely null and void. 

In witness whereof, the said partj' of the first part hereunto set their 
hands and seals the day and year first above written. 
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of 

James Whitehead, William Stocker. [l.s.] 

Fred. Samuels. Olla Stocker. [l.s.] 

WARRANTY DEED WITH COVENANTS. 

This Indenture, made this sixth da}- of April, in the year of our 
Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, between Henry Best 
of Lawrence, County of Lawrence, State of Illinois, and Relle, his wife, 
of the first part, and Charles Pearson of the same place, of the second part, 

Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for and in consideration 
of the sum of Six Thousand dollars in hand paid by the said party of the 
second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted, 
bargained, and sold, and l)y tliese presents do grant, bargain, and sell. 
unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, all the fol- 
lowing described lot, piece, or parcel of land, situated in the City of Law- 
rence, in the County of Lawrence, and State of Illinois, to wit : 
[Hi're descrihe the property. '\ 

Together witli all and singular tlie hereditaments and appurtenances 
thereunto belonging or in any wise apjiertaining, and the reversion and 
reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues, and profits thereof; 
and all the estate, rignt, title, interest, claim, and demand whatsoever, of 
the said party of the nrst part, either in law or equity, of, in, and to the 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 185 

above bargained premises, with the hereditaments and appurtenances. 
To have and to hold the said premises above bargained and described, 
with the appurtenances, unto the said party of tlie second part, his heirs 
and assigns, forever. And the said Henry Best, and Belle, his wife, par- 
ties of the first part, hereby expressly waive, release, and relinquish unto 
the said party of the second part, his heirs, executors, administrators, and 
assigns, all right, title, claim, interest, and benefit whatever, in and to the 
above described premises, and each and every part thereof, which is given 
by or results from all laws of this state pertaining to the exemption of 
homesteads. 

And the said Henr}- Best, and Belle, his wife, party of the first 
part, for themselves and their heirs, executors, and administrators, do 
covenant, grant, bargain, and agree, to and with the said party of the 
second part, his heirs and assigns, that at the time of the ensealing and 
delivery of these presents they were well seized of the premises above 
conveyed, as of a good, sure, perfect, absolute, and indefeasible estate of 
inheritance in law, and in fee simple, and have good right, full power, 
and lawful authority to grant, bargain, sell, and convey the same, in 
manner and form aforesaid, and that tlie same are free and clear from all 
former and other grants, bargains, sales, liens, taxes, assessments, and 
encumbrances of what kind or nature soever ; and the above bargained 
premises in the quiet and peaceable possession of the said party of the 
second part, his heirs and assigns, against all and every person or persons 
lawfully claiming or to claim the whole or any part thereof, the said party 
of tlie first part shall and will warrant and forever defend. 

In testimony whereof, the said parties of the first part have hereunto 
set their hands and seals the day and year first above written. 
Signed, sealed and delivered 

in presence of Henry Best, [l.s.] 

Jerry Linklater. Belle Best. [l.s.] 

QUIT-CLAIM DEED. 

This Indenture, made the eighth day of June, in the year of our 
Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, between David Tour, 
of Piano, County of Kendall, State of Illinois, party of the first part, 
and Larry O'Brien, of the same place, party of the second part, 

Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for and in considera- 
tion of Nine Hundred dollars in hand paid by the said party of the sec- 
ond part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and the said party 
of the second part forever released and discharged therefrom, has remised, 
released, sold, conveyed, and quit-claimed, and by these presents does 
remise, release, sell, convey, and quit-claim, unto the said party of the 
second part, his heirs and assigns, forever, all the right, title, interest, 



180 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

claim, and demand, which the said party of the first part has in and to 
the following described lot, piece, or parcel of land, to wit : 

[5ere describe the land.'\ 
To have and to hold the same, together with all and singular the 
ajjpnrtenances and privileges thereunto belonging, or in any wise there- 
unto appertaining, and all the estate, right, title, interest, and claim 
whatever, of the said party of the first part, either in law or equity, to 
the only proper use, benefit, and behoof of the said party of the second 
part, his heirs and assigns forever. 

In witness whereof the said party of the first jaart hereunto set his 
hand and seal the day and year above written. 

Signed, sealed and delivered David Tour, [l.s.] 

in presence of 
Thomas Ashley. 

The above forms of Deeds and Mortgage are such as have heretofore 
been generally used, but the following are much shorter, and are made 
equally valid by the laws of this state. 

WARRANTY DEED. 

The grantor (here insert name or names and place of residence), for 
and in consideration of (here insert consideration) in hand paid, conveys 
and warrants to (here insert the grantee's name or names^ the following 
described real estate (here insert description), situated in the County of 
in the State of Illinois. 

Dated this day of A. D. 18 . 

QUIT CLAIM DEED. 

The grantor (here insert grantor's name or names and place of resi- 
dence), for the consideration of (liere insert consideration) convey and 
quit-claim to (iiere insert grantee's name or names) all interest in the 
following described real estate (here insert description), situated in the 
County of in the State of Illinois. 

Dated this day of A. D. IS -. 

MORTGAGE. 

The mortgagor (here insert name or names) mortgages and warrants 
to (here insert name or names of mortgagee or mortgagees), to secure the 
payment of (here recite tlie nature and amount of indebtedness, showing 
when due and the rate of interest, and whether secured by nbte or other- 
wise), tlie following described real estate (here insert description thereof), 
situated in the County of in the State of Illinois. 

Dated this day of A. D. 18 . 

RELEASE. 

Know all Men by these presents, tliat I, Peter Ahlund, of Chicago, 
of the County of Cook, and State of Illinois, for and in consideration of 
One dollar, to me in hand paid, and for other good and valuable considera- 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 187 

tions, the receipt whereof is hereby confessed, do hereby grant, bargain, 
remise, convey, release, and quit-claim unto Joseph Carlin of Chicago, 
of the County of Cook, and State of Illinois, all the right, title, interest, 
claim, or demand whatsoever, I may have acquired in, through, or by a 
certain Indenture or Mortgage Deed, bearing date the second day of Jan- 
uary, A. D. 1871, and recorded in the Recorder's office of said county, 
in book A of Deeds, page 46, to the premises therein described, and which 
said Deed was made to secure one certain promissory note, bearing even 
date with said deed, for the sum of Three Hundred dollars. 

Witness my hand and seal, this second day of November, A. D. 1874. 

Peter Ahlund. [l.s.] 

State of Illinois, ) 

Cook County. j ' I, George Saxton, a Notary Public in 

and for said county, in the state aforesaid, do hereby 

certify that Peter Ahlund, personally known to me 

as the same person whose name is subscribed to the 

foregoing Release, appeared before me this day in 

I "^slL^^ ] person, and acknowledged that he signed, sealed, and 

delivered the said instrument of writing as his free 

and voluntar}^ act, for the uses and purposes therein 

set forth. 

Giv^u under my hand and seal, this second day of 
Novembar, A. D. 1874. 

George Saxton, N. P. 

GENERAL FOJ?M OF WILL FOR REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY. 

I, Charles Mansfield, of the Town of Salem, County of Jackson, 
State of Illinois, being aware of the uncertainty of life, and in failing- 
health, but of sound mind and memor}% do make and declare this to be 
my last will and testament, in manner following, to wit: 

First. I give, devise and bequeath unto my oldest son, Sidney H. 
Mansfield, the sum of Two Thousand Dollars, cf bank stock, now in the 
Tliird National Bank of Cincinnati, Ohio, and the farm owned by myself 
in the Town of Buskirk, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, with 
all the houses, tenements, and improvements thereunto belonging ; to 
have and to hold unto my said son, his heirs and assign^, forever. 

Second. I give, devis^ and bequeath to each of my daughters, Anna 
Louise Mansfield and Ida Clara Mansfield, each Two Thousand dollars in 
bank stock, in the Third National Bank of Cincinnati, Ohio, and also each 
one quarter section of land, owned by mvself, situated in tht Town of 
Lake, Illinois, and recorded in mj' name in the Recorder's officv' in the 
county where such land is located. The north one hundred and sixty 
acres of said half section is devised to my eldest daughter, Anna Louise. 

6 



188 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 



Third. I give, devise and bequeath to my son, Frank Alfred Mans- 
field, Five shares of Railroad stock in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, 
and my one hundred and sixty acres of land and saw mill thereon, situ- 
ated in Manistee, Michigan, with all the improvements and appurtenances 
thereunto belonging, which said real estate is recorded in my name in the 
county where situated. 

Fourth. I give to my wife, Victoria Elizabeth Mansfield, all my 
household furniture, goods, chattels, and personal property, about my 
home, not hitherto disposed of, including Eight Thousand dollars of bank 
stock in the Third National Bank of Cincinnati, Ohio, Fifteen shares in 
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and the free and unrestricted use, pos- 
session, and benefit of the home farm, so long as she may live, in lieu of 
dower, to which she is entitled by law ; said farm being my present place 
of residence. 

Fifth. I bequeath to my invalid father, Elijah H. Mansfield, the 
income from rents of my store building at 145 Jackson Street, Chicago, 
Illinois, during the term of his natural life. Said building and land there- 
with to revert to my said sons and daughters in equal proportion, upon 
the demise of my said father. 

Sixth. It is also my will and desire that, at the death of my wife, 
Victoria Elizabeth Mansfield, or at any time when she may arrange to 
relinquish her life interest in the above mentioned homestead, the same 
may revert to my above named children, or to the lawful heirs of each. 

And lastly. I nominate and appoint as executors of this my last will 
and testament, my wife, Victoria Elizabeth Mansfield, and my eldest son, 
Sidney H. Mansfield. 

I further direct that my debts and necessary funeral expenses shad 
be paid from moneys now on deposit in the Savings Bank of Salem, the 
residue of such moneys to revert to my wife, Victoria Elizabeth Mansfield, 
for her use forever. 

In witness whereof, I, Charles Mansfield, to this my last will and 
testament, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this fourth day of April, 
eighteen hundred and seventy-two. 



Signed, sealed, and declared by Charles 
Mansfield, as and for his last will and 
testament, in the presence of us, who, 
at his request, and in his presence, and 
in the presence of each other, have sub- 
scribed our names hereunto as witnesses 
thereof. 

Peter A. Schenck, Sycamore, Ills. 

Fkank E. Dent, Salem, Ills. 



Charles Mansfield, [l.s.] 



Charles Mansfield, [l.s.] 



> 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. ISl) 

CODICIL. 

Whereas I, Charles Mansfield, did, on the fourth day of April, one 
thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, make my last will and testa- 
ment, I do now, by this writing, add this codicil to my said will, to be 
taken as a part thereof. 

Whereas, bj^ the dispensation of Providence, my daughter, Anna 
Louise, has deceased November fifth, eighteen hundred and seventy-three, 
and whereas, a son has been born to me, which son is now christened 
Richard Albert Mansfield, I give and bequeath unto him my gold watch, 
and all right, interest, and title in lands and bank stock and chattels 
bequeathed to my deceased daughter, Anna Louise, in the body of this will. 

In witness whereof, I hereunto place my hand and seal, this tenth 
day of March, eighteen hundred and seventy-five. 

Signed, sealed, published, and declared to^ 

us by the testator, Charles Mansfield, as 

and for a codicil to be annexed to his 

last will and testament. And we, at 

his request, and in his presence, and in 

the presence of each other, have sub- 
scribed our names as witnesses thereto, 

at the date hereof. 
Frank E. Dent, Salem, Ills. 
John C. Shay, Salem, Ills. 



CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS 

May be legally made by electing or appointing, according to the usages 
or customs of the body of which it is a part, at any meeting held for that 
purpose, two or more of its members as trustees, wardens or vestrymen, and 
may adopt a corporate name. The chairman or secretary of such meeting 
shall, as soon as possible, make and file in the office of the recorder of 
deeds of the county, an affidavit substantially in the following form : 

State of Illinois, / 

County. (■ ^^• 

L , do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be), 

that at a meeting of the members of the (here insert the name of the 
church, society or congregation as known before organization), held at 

(here insert place of meeting), in the County of , and State of 

Illinois, on the day of — ^ , A.D. 18—, for that purpose, the fol- 
lowing persons were elected (or appointed) [here insert their names'] 
trustees, wardens, vestrymen, (or officers by whatever name they may 
choose to adojit, with powers similar to trustees) according to the rules 
and usages of such (church, society or congregation), and said 



IPO ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

adopted as its corporate name (here insert name), and at said meeting- 
this affiant acted as (chairman or secretaiy, as the case may be). 

Subscribed and sworn to before me, this day of , A.D, 

18 — . Name of Affiant 

■which affidavit must be recorded by the recorder, and sliall be, or a certi'- 
lied copy made by the recorder, received as evidence of such an incorpo- 
ration. 

No certificate of election after the first need he filed for record. 

The term of office of the trustees and the general government of the- 
society can be determined by the rules or by-laws adopted. Failure to 
elect trustees at the time provided does not work a dissolution, but the 
old trustees hold over. A trustee or trustees may be removed, in the 
same manner by the society as elections are held by a meeting called for 
that purpose. The property of the society vests in the corporation. The 
corporation may hold, or acquire by purchase or otherwise, land not 
exceeding ten acres, for the purpose of the society. The trustees have 
the care, custody and control of the property of the corjjoration, and can, 
when directed by the society, erect houses or improvements, and repair 
and alter the same, and may also when so directed by the society, 
mortgage, encuml)er, sell and convey any real or personal estate belonging 
to the corporation, and make all proper contracts in the name of such 
corporation. But thej^ are prohibited b}' law from encumbering or inter- 
fering with any property so as to destroy the effect of any gift, grant, 
devise or bequest to the corporation ; but such gifts, grants, devises of 
bequests, must in all cases be used so as to carry out the object intended 
by the persons making the same. Existing societies may organize in the 
manner herein set forth, and have all the advantages thereof. 

SUGGESTIONS TO THOSE PURCHASING BOOKS BY SUBSCRIPTION. 

The business of publishing books hy subscription having so often been 
brought into disrepute by agents making representations and declarations 
not authorized by the publisher : in order to prevent that as mucli as possi- 
ble, and that there may be more general knowledge of tlie relation such 
agents bear to tlieir principal, and the law governing such cases, the fol- 
lowing statement is made : 

A subscription is in the nature of a contract of mutual promises, by 
which the subscriber agrees to pay a certain sum for the work described ; 
the consideration is concurrent tliat the publislier shall publish the book 
named, and deliver the same, for which the subscriber is to pay the price 
named. The nature and character of the work is described in the prospectus 
and hy the sample shown. These lihould he carefully examined before sub- 
scribing, as they are the basis and consideration of the promise to pay. 



ABSTRACT OF ll^LINOIS STATK LAWS. 

and not the too often exaggerated statements of the agent, who is merely 
employed to solicit subscriptions, for which he is usually paid a commission 
for each subscriber, and has no authority to change or alter the conditions 
upon which the subscriptions are authorized to be made by the publisher. 
Should the agent assume to agree to make the subscription conditional or 
modify or change the agreement of the publisher, as set out by prospectus 
and sample, in order to bind the principal, the subscriber should see that 
such conditions or changes are stated over or in ■connection with his signa- 
ture, so that the publisher may have notice of the same. 

All persons making contracts in reference to matters of this kind, or 
any other business, should remember that the law as to written contracts is, 
that they can not be varied, altered or rescinded verbally, but if done at all, 
must be done in writing. It is therefore important that all persons contem- 
plating subscribing should distinctly understand that all talk before or after 
the subscription is made, is not admissible as evidence, and is no part of the 
-contract. 

Persons employed to solicit subscriptions are known to the trade as 
canvassers. They are agents appointed to do a particular business in a 
prescribed mode, and have no authority to do it in any other way to tiie 
prejudice of their principal, nor can the}' bind their principal in any other 
matter. They can not collect money, or agree that payment may be made 
in anything else but money. They can not extend the time of f)ayment 
beyond the time of delivery, nor bind their principal for the payjnent of 
expenses incurred in their buisness. 

It would save a great deal of trouble, and often serious loss, if persons, 
before signing their names to any subscription book, or any written instru- 
ment, would examine carefully what it is ; if they can not read themselves, 
should call on some one disinterested who can. 



192 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 

We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, 
establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common 
defense, promote the general ivelfare, and secure the blessings of liberty 
to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution 
for the United States of America. 

Article I. 

Section 1. All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in 
a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and 
House of Representatives. 

Sec. 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of mem- 
bers chosen every second year by the people of the several states, and the 
electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of 
the most numerous branch of the State Legislature. 

No person shall be a representative who shall not have attained to the 
age of twenty-five years, and been seven years a citizen of the United 
States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state in 
which he shall be chosen. 

Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the sev- 
eral states which may be included within this Union, according to their 
respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole 
number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of 
years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other persons. 
The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first 
meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subse- 
quent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. The 
number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, 
but each state shall have at least one Representative ; and until such 
enumeration shall be made tlie State of New Hampshire shall be entitled 
to choose three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island and Providence Plan- 
tations one, Connecticut five. New York six. New Jersey four, Pennsylva- 
nia eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten. North Carolina five, 
and Georgia three. 

When vacancies happen in the representation from any state, the 
Executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such 
vacancies. 

The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other 
officers, and shall have the sole power of impeachment. 

Sec. 3. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two 
Senators from each state, chosen by the Legislature thereof for six years ; 
and each Senator siiall have one vote. 

Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of the first 
election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes. 
The seats of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expira- 



AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 19d 

tion of the second year, of the second class at the expiration of the fourth 
year, and of the third class at the expiration of the sixth year, so that 
one-third may be chosen every second year; and if vacancies happen by 
resignation or otherwise, during the recess of the Legislature of any state, 
the Executive thereof may make temporary appointments until the next 
meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such vacajcies. 

No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the age 
of thirty years and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and 
who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he 
shall be chosen. 

The Vice-President of the United States shall be President of the 
Senate, but shall have no vote unless they be equally divided. 

The Senate shall choose their other ofiicers, and also a President pro 
tempore, in the absence of the Vice-President, or when he shall exercise 
the office of President of the United States. 

The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When 
sitting for that purpose they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the 
President of the United States is tried the Chief Justice shall preside. 
And no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds 
of the members present. 

Judgment, in cases of impeachment, shall not extend further than to 
removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of 
honor, trust, or profit under the United States ; but the party convicted 
shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment, 
and punishment according to law. 

Sec. 4. The times, places and manner of holding elections for Sen- 
ators and Representatives shall be prescribed in each state by the Legis- 
lature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by law make or alter 
such regulations, except as to the places of choosing Senators. 

The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such 
meeting sliall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by 
law appoint a different day. 

Sec. 5. Each house shall be the judge of the. election, returns, and 
qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute 
a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to 
day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members 
in such manner and under such penalties as each liouse may provide. 

Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its 
members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, 
expel a member. 

Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to 
time publish the same, excepting such jiarts as may, in their judgment, 
recpiire secrecy ; and the yeas and nays of the members of either house 
on any question shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those present, be entered 
on the journal. 

Neither house, during the session of Congress, shall, without the 
consent of the otlier. adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other 
place than that in which the two houses shall be sitting. 

Sec. t3. Tlie Senators and Representatives shall receive a compen- 
sation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the 
treasury of the United States. They shall in all cases, except treason. 



194 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 

felony, and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their 
attendance at the session of their respective houses, and in going to and 
returning from the same ; and for any speech or debate in either house 
they shall not be questioned in any other place. 

No Senator or Representative shall, during the time for which he was 
elected, be appointed to any civil office under the authority of the United 
States, which shall have been created, or the emoluments whereof shall 
have been increased during such time ; and no person holding any office 
under the United States, shall be a member of either house during his 
continuance in office. 

Sec. 7. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of 
Representatives ; but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments 
as on other bills. 

Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and 
the Senate, shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the President 
- the United States ; if he approve he shall sign it ; but if not he shall 
return it, with his objections, to that house in which it shall have origi- 
nated, who shall enter the objections at large on their journal, and 
proceed to reconsider it. If, after such reconsideration two-thirds of that 
house shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objec- 
tions, to the other house, by whicli it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if 
approved by two-thirds of that house, it shall become a law. But in all 
such cases the votes of both houses shall be determined by \eas and nays, 
and the names of the persons voting for and against the bill shall be entered 
on the journal of each house respectively, if any bill shall not be returned 
by the President within ten days (Sundays excepted), after it shall have 
been presented to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he 
had signed it, unless the Congress, by their adjotirnment, prevent its 
return, in which case it shall not be a law. 

Every order, resolution, or vote to which the concurrence of the 
Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a 
question of adjournment), shall be presented to the President of the 
United States, and before the same shall take effect shall be approved by 
him, or, being disapproved by him, shall be re-passed by two-thirds of 
the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the rules and lim- 
itations prescribed in the case of a bill. 

Sec. 8. The Congress shall have power — 

To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts, 
and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United 
States ; but all duties, imposts, and excises shall be uniform throughotit 
the United States ; 

To borrow money on the credit of the United States ; 

To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several 
Str.tes, and with the Indian tribes; 

To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on 
the subject of l)ankruptcies throughout the United States ; 

To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and 
fix tlie standard of weights and measures ; 

To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and 
current coin of the United States; 

To establish post offices and post roads ; 



AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 195 

To promote the i)rogress of sciences and useful arts, by securing, 
for ]'mited times, to authors and inventors, the exclusive right to their 
respective writings and discoveries ; 

To constitute tribunals inferior to tlie Supreme Court ; 

To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high 
seas, and oifenses against the law of nations ; 

To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules 
concerning captures on land and water ; 

To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that 
use shall be for n longer term than two years ; 

To provide and maintain a navy ; 

To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and 
naval forces ; 

To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the 
Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions ; 

To provide for organizing, arming and disciplining the militia, and 
for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the 
United States, reserving to the states respectively the appointment of the 
officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the disci-, 
pline prescribed by Congress ; 

To exercise legislation in all cases whatsoever over such district (not 
exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the 
acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the United 
States, and to exercise like authority over all places purchased by the 
consent of the Legislature of the state in which the same shall be, for 
the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock yards, and other needful 
buildings ; and 

To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying 
intc execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this 
Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any depart- 
ment or officer thereof. 

Sec. 9. The migration or importation of such persons as any of the 
states now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be isrohibited 
by the Congress prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, 
but a tax or duty may be imposed on such importation, not exceeding ten 
dollars for each person. 

The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, 
unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may 
require it. 

No bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed. 

No capitation or other direct tax shall be laid, unless in proportion 
to the census or enumeration hereinbefore directed to be taken. 

No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any state. 

No preference shall be given by any regulation of commerce or rev- 
enue to the ports of one state over those of another; nor shall vessels 
bound to or from one state be obliged to enter, clear, or pay duties in 
another. 

No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in consequence of 
appropriations made by law ; and a regular statement and account of 
the receipts and expeditures of all public money shall be published from 
time to time. 



196 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 

No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States : and no 
person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the 
consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title 
of any kind whatever, from any king, jjrince, or foreign state. 

Sec. 10. No state shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confeder- 
ation ; grant letters of marque and reprisal ; coin money ; emit bills of 
credit ; make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of 
debts ; pass any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the 
obligation of contracts, or grant any title of noliility. 

No state shall, without the consent of the Congress, lay any imposts 
or duties on imports or exports, except what may l)e absolutely necessary 
for executing its inspection laws, and the net produce of all duties and 
imposts laid by any state on imports or exports, shall be for the use of the 
Treasury of the United States , and all such laws shall be subject to the 
revision and control of the Congress. 

No state shall, without the consent of Congress, lay any duty on 
tonnage, keep troops or ships of war in time of peace, enter into any 
agreement or compact with another state, or with a foreign power, or 
engage in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as wil} 
not admit of delay. 

Article II. 

Section 1. The Executive power shall be vested in a President of 
the United States of America. He shall hold his office during the term 
of four years, and, together with the Vice-President chosen for the same 
term, be elected as follows : 

Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the Legislature thereof 
may direct, a number of Electors, equal to the whole number of Senators 
and Representatives to which the state may be entitled in the Congress; 
but no Senator or Representative, or person holding an office of trust or 
profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector. 

[ * The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by 
ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not be an inhabitant of 
the same state with themselves. And they shall make a list of all the 
persons voted for, and of the number of votes for each ; which list they 
shall sign and certify, and transmit, sealed, to the seat of the government 
of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The Pres- 
ident of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Rep- 
resentatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted. 
The person having the greatest number of votes shall be the President, 
if such number he a majority of the whole numljer of Electors appointed ; 
and if there be more than one who have such majority, and have an equal 
number of votes, tlien the House of Representatives shall immediately 
choose by ballot one of them for President ; and if no person have a ma- 
jority, then from the five highest on the list the said House shall in like 
manner choose the President. But in choosing the President, the vote 
shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one 
vote ; a quorum for tliis purpose shall consist of a member or members 
from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be 
necessary to a choice. In every case, after the choice of the President, 

■ This clause between.brackets bas been superseded and annulled by tbe Twelfth amendment. 



AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 19T 

the person having the greatest number of votes of the Electors shall be 
the Vice-President. But if there should remain two or more who have 
equal votes, the Senate shall choose from them by ballot the Vice-Presi- 
dent.] 

The Congress may determine the time of choosing the Electors, and 
the day on which they shall give their votes ; which day shall be the same 
throughout the United States. 

No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United 
States at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible 
to the office of President ; neither shall any person be eligible to that 
office who shall not have attained the age of thirty-five years, and been 
fourteen years a resident within the United States. 

In case of the removal of the President from office, or of his death, 
resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said 
office, the same shall devolve on the Vice-PiJesident, and the Congress 
may by law provide for the ease of removal, death, resignation, or inabil- 
ity, both of the President and Vice-President, declaring what officer shall 
then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the dis^ 
ability be removed, or a President shall be elected. 

The President shall, at stated times, receive for his services a com- 
pensation which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the 
period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive 
within that period any other emolument from the United States or any of 
them. 

Before he enters on the execution of his office, he shall take the fol- 
lowing oath or affirmation : 

" I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the 
office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, 
preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States." 

Sec. 2. The President shall be commander in chief of the army and 
navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when 
called into the actual service of the United States ; he may require the 
opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive 
departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective 
offices, and he shall have powei- to grant reprieves and pardon for offenses 
against the United States, ex-cept in cases of impeachment. 

He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the 
Senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senators present con- 
cur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice of the Senate, 
shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of 
the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States whose 
appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be 
established by law ; but the Congress may by law vest the appointment 
of such inferior officers as they think proper in the President alone, ia 
the courts of law, or in the heads of departments. 

The President shall have power to fill up all vacancies that may 
happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which 
shall expire at the end of their next session. 

Sec. 3. He shall from time to time give to the Congress information- 
of the state of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such mea- 
sures as he shall judge necessary and expedient ; he may on extraordinary 



198 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 

occasions convene both houses, or either of them, and in case of disagree- 
ment between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he may 
adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper ; he shall receive 
ambassadors and other public ministers ; he shall take care that the laws be 
faithfully executed, and shall commission all the officers of the United 
States. 

Sec. 4. The President, Vice-President, and all civil officers of the 
United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and con- 
viction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. 

Article III. 

I 

Section I. The judicial power of the United States shall be vested 
in one Supreme Court, and such inferior courts as the Congress may from 
time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the Supreme and 
inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior, and shall, at 
stated times, receive for their services a compensation, which shall not be 
diminished during their continuance in office. 

Sec. 2. The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and 
■equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States, and 
treaties made, or which shall be made, under their authority ; to all cases 
affecting ambassadors, other jjuhlic ministers, and consuls ; to all cases of 
.admiralty and maritime jurisdiction ; to controversies to which the United 
"States shall be a party ; to controversies between two or more states ; 
between a state and citizens of another state ; between citizens of differ- 
•ent states; between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants 
of different states, and between a state or the citizens thereof, and foreign 
•states, citizens, or subjects. 

In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls, 
and those in which a state shall be a party, the Supreme Court sliall have 
original jurisdiction. 

In all the other cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court shall 
tave appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions 
and under such regulations as the Congress shall make. 

The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by 
jury ; and such trial shall be held in the state where the said crimes shall 
have been committed ; but when not committed within anj^ state, the 
trial shall be at such place or places as the Congress may by law have 
•directed. 

Sec. 3. Treason against the United States shall consist only in levy- 
ing war against them, or in adliering to their enemies, givinjr them aid 
and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the tes- 
timony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open 
■court. 

The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason, 
but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture, 
«xcept during the life of the person attainted. 

Article IV. 

Section 1. Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the 
public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. And 



AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 19^ 

the Congress may, by general laws, prescribe the manner in which such 
acts, records, and proceedings shall be proved, and tlie effect thereof. 

Sec. 2. The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges 
and immunities of citizens in the several states. 

A person charged in any state with treason, felony, or other crime,, 
who shall flee from justice and be found in another state, shall, on demand 
of the executive authority of the state from which he fled, be delivered 
up, to be removed to the state having jurisdicl'on of the crime. 

No person held to service or labor in one state, under the laws thereof 
escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation 
therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall be delivered 
up on the claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be due. 

Sec. 3. New states may be admitted by the Congress into this Union ; 
but no new state shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any 
other state ; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, 
or parts of states, without the consent of the Legislatures of the states 
concerned, as well as of the Congress. 

The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful 
rules and regulations respecting the territory' or other property belonging 
to the United States ; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed 
as to prejudice any claims of the United States or of any particular state. 

Sec. 4. The United States shall guarantee to every state in this 
Union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them 
against invasion, and on application of the Legislature, or of the Execu- 
tive (when the Legislature can not be convened), against domestic vio- 
lence. 

Akticle V. 

The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses shall deem it 
necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the ap- 
plication of the Legislatures of two-thirds of the several states, shall call 
a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be 
valid to all intents and purposes as part of this Constitution, when rati- 
fied by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by con- 
ventions in three-fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratifi- 
cation may be proposed by the Congress. Provided that no amendment 
which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and 
eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth 
section of the first article ; and that no state, without its consent, shall 
be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate. 

Akticle VL 

All debts contracted and engagements entered into before the adop- 
tion of this Constitution shall be as valid against the United States under 
this Constitution as under the Confederation. 

This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be 
made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be made, 
under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the 
land ; and the Judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in 
the Constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding. 

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the mem- 



CONSTITUTION OF TETE UNITED STATUS 



bers of the several state Legislatures, and all executive and judicial oiE- 
■cers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound 
by oath or affirmation to support this Constitution ; but no religious test 
shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under 
the United States. 

Akticle VII. 

The ratification of the Conventions of nine states shall be sufficient 
for the establishment of this Coustitution between the states so ratifying 
the same. 

Done in convention by the unanimous consent of the states present, the 
seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand 
seven hundred and eighty-seven, and of the independence of the 
United States of America the twelfth. In witness whereof we have 
hereunto subscribed our names. 

GEO. WASHINGTON, 
President and Deputy from Virginia. 



New Hampshire. 
John Langdon, 
Nicholas Gilman. 

Massachusetts. 
Nathaniel Gokham, 
RuFus King. 

Connecticut. 
Wm. Sam'l Johnson, 
EoGEE Sherman. 



Delaivare. 
Geo. Read, 
John Dickinson, 
Jaco. Broom, 
Gunning Bedford, Jr., 
Richard Bassett. 

Maryland. 
James M'Henry, 
Danl. Carroll, 
Dan. of St. Thos. Jenifee. 



New York. 
Alexander Hamilton. 

New Jersey. 
WiL. Livingston, 
Wm. Paterson, 
David Brearley, 
JoNA. Dayton. 



Virginia. 
John Blair, 
James Madison, Je. 

North Carolina, 
Wm. Blount, 
Hu. Williamson, 
Rich'd Dobbs Spaight. 



Pennsylvania. 
B. Franklin, 
Robt. Morris, 
Thos. Fitzsimons, 
James Wilson, 
Thos. Mifflin, 
Geo. Clymer, 
Jared Ingersoll, 
Gouv. Morris. 



South Carolina. 
J. Rutledge, 
Charles Pinckney, 
Chas. Cotesworth Pinckney, 
Pierce Butler. 

Georgia. 
William Few, 
Abr. Baldwin. 



WILLIAM JACKSON, Secretary. 



AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 203 



Articles in Addition to and Amendatory of the Constitution 
OF THE United States of America. 

Proposed by Congress and ratified by the Legislatures of the several states, 
pursuant to the fifth article of the original Constitution. 

Article I. 

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, 
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of 
speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, 
and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. 

Article II. 

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free 
state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. 

Article III. 

No soldier shall, in time of jjeace, be quartered in any house without 
the consent of the owner, nor in time of war but in a manner to be pre- 
scribed by law. 

Article IV. 

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, 
and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be vio- 
lated ; and no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by 
oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched 
and the persons or things to be seized. 

Article V. 

No person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamous 
crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in 
cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia when in actual 
service in time of war or public danger ; nor shall any person be subject 
for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb ; nor shall 
be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be 
deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor 
shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. 

Article VI. 

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a 
speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district 
wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have 
been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and 
cause of the accusation ; to be confronted with the witnesses against him ; 
to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor; and to 
have the assistance of counsel for his defense. 

Article VII. 

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed 
twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact 



204 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 

tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United 
States than according to the rules of the common law. 

Aetxcle VIII. 

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, 
nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. 

Article IX. 

The enumeration, in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be 
construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. 

Article X. 

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, 
nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, 
or to the people. 

Article XI. 

The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to 
extend to any suit in law or equity commenced or prosecuted against one 
of the United States by citizens of another state, or by citizens or sub- 
jects of any foreign state. 

Article XII. 

The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot 
for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an 
inhabitant of the same state with themselves ; they shall name in their 
ballots the person to be voted for as president, and in distinct ballots the 
person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of 
all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice- 
President, and of the number of votes for each, which list they shall sign 
and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United 
States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the 
Senate shall, in presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, 
open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted. The person 
having the greatest number of votes for President shall be the President, 
if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed ; 
and if no person have such majority, then fi-ora the persons having the 
highest number not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as 
President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by 
ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be 
taken by States, the representation from each state having one vote; a 
quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two- 
thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to 
a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a Presi- 
dent whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the 
fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as 
President, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of 
the President. The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice- 
President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be the majority 
of the whole number of electors appointed, and if no person have a major- 



AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 205 

ity, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose 
the Vice-President ; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds 
of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number 
shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible 
to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the 
United States. 

Aeticle XIII. 

Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a 
punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, 
shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their juris- 
diction. 

Sec. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appro- 
priate legislation. 

Article XIV. 

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States and 
subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States, and 
of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law 
which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United 
States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, 
without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction 
the equal protection of the laws. 

Sec. 2. Representatives shall be appointed among the several states 
according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of per- 
sons in each state, excluding Indians not taxed ; but when the right to 
vote at any election for the choice of Electors for President and Vice- 
President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the execu- 
tive and judicial officers of a state, or the members of tlie Legislature 
thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such state, being 
twenty-one years of age and citizens of the United States, or in any way 
abridged except for participation in rebellion or other crimes, the basis of 
representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the num- 
ber of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens 
twenty-one years of age in such state. 

Sec. 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, 
or Elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or 
military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previ- 
ously taken an oath as a Member of Congress, or as an officer of the 
United States, or as a member of any state Legislature, or as an execu- 
tive or judicial officer of any state to support the Constitution of the 
United States, shall liave engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the 
same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may 
by a vote of two-thirds of each house, remove such disability. • 

Sec. 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States author- 
ized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and boun- 
ties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be ques- 
tioned. But neither the United States nor any state shall pay any debt 
or obligation incurred in the aid of insurrection or rebellion against the 
United States, or any loss or emancipation of any slave, but such debts, 
obligations, and claims shall be held illegal and void. 



206 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Sec. 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate 
legislation, the provisions of this act. 

Article XV. 

Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall 
not be denied or abridged by the United States, or by any state, on 
account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. 

Sec. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appro- 
priate legislation. 



ELECTORS OF PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT. 
November 7, 1876. 



COUNTIES. 


hi 

X « 


t- o 

C-3C 

lis 


o « 

it 


o 


Mo 

' 

a 
< 


COTTNTIES. 


hi 


Tilden and 
Hendricks, 
Democrat. 


" 

00 


1 


< 




4953 
121!) 
15i!0 
1965 

944 
3719 

441 
2231 
1209 
4530 
2501 
1814 
141tj 
1329 
2957 
3B548 
1355 
1145 
8679 
1938 
1631 
2129 
2715 

970 
1145 
1881 
1601 

966 
4187 

703 
1695 
1996 

627 
3496 

330 
1315 
4177 
3768 
2040 


6308 
1280 
1142 

363 
1495 
2218 

900 

918 
1618 
3103 
3287 
2197 
1541 
1989 
2822 
39240 
1643 
1407 
1413 
1174 
1337 
1276 
2883 

466 
2265 
2421 

742 
1302 
4669 
1140 
3160 
1142 
1433 
4207 

611 
1015 
1928 
2578 
2071 


41 


17 




Livingston 


3550 
2788 
3120 
3567 
4554 
2009 
1553 
1566 
1231 
2952 
3465 
6363 
1115 
2209 

845 
2486 
3069 
1245 
3833 
4665 
1319 
1541 
1807 
3055 
1043 

646 
2357 
1410 
3912 

980 
4851 
1522 

910 
2069 
1140 
4708 
3198 
2850 

978 
4372 

650 
2795 
1911 
1570 
1297 
3851 
4770 
1672 
4505 
1733 


2134 
2595 
2782 
4076 
4730 
2444 
1430 
1939 

793 
2811 
1874 
4410 
1657 
1428 
1651 
3013 
3174 
1672 
1921 
5443 

800 
1383 
1316 
4040 

772 

459 
2589 
1552 
2838 
1081 
5847 
1804 
1269 
3553 

786 
5891 
2758 
3171 
2155 
3031 

936 
1984 
1671 
1751 
2066 
2131 
3999 
1644 
1568 
2105 


1170 

37 

268 

114 

39 

209 

135 

86 

20 

347 

34 

518 

10 

90 

201 
109 

28 
104 

95 
5 

it? 
35 


'ie 


•i 




LogaTi 






17 

43 
183 
145 












2 

1 

2 


li 


Macoupin 






1 
s 

■■'8 












Mai'stiail . . 


1 




111 

74 

604 

207 

236 

112 

132 

102 

277 

38 

129 

65 

746 

94 

25 

161 

61 

43 

57 

204 

391 

89 

282 

1 

108 

770 


1 

7 

"i 

:::: 

"lO 

'"i 


3 
"i 

6 

9 

"a 

"i 
■■■9 
"4 


Mason 












McDonongli 






IMcHonry 


s 






7 












<i 
















Morgan 


s 




Moultrie 




DeKalb 


Ogle 


8 












"i 












Piatt. 






I'ilte 


4 




Pulaslil 








14 
•> 

55 

M 

29 

115 

182 

341 

96 

99 

26 

44 

3 

288 

207 

1.38 

39 

482 

469 

133 

677 

41 

70 

237 






Foru 


Randolpl) 






Frnnklln . 


Itlcliianil 




FuUon .... 


Itooic Island 






Saline 




Greene 


Sangamon 










Scott 








Sliclby 

Stark 




Hardin 


134 
1 

340 
249 
106 


■•■4 

14 


"s 

1 








"2 

"8 

13 

1 

130 


1 


Henry 




3 


Tazewell 


2 










9 




1346 
1345 
2907 
1367 
5398 
2627 
1869 
5235 
2619 
6277 
1198 
3087 


1667 
2166 
2276 

893 
2850 
1363 

524 
2632 
1647 
HOOl 
1329 
2080 


647 

"iw 

fil 
172 

26 
309 
141 

55 
514 

27 
100 


12 
2 

"i 


■■3 

'6 
2 

"i 

1 
15 

■'6 


Wahasli 




Jersey 


Warren 

Was hlngton 


1 










Wlilte 


4 




Whiteside 


1 




Will 






Williamson 




Lake 


Winnebago 


2 


LaSalle 


Woodford 


4 




Total 




Lee 


275968 


257099 


16951 


157 



Practical Rules for Every Day Use. 



How to find the gain or loss per cent, ivhen the cost and selling price 
<ire given. 

Rule. — Find the difference between the cost and selling price, which 
will be the gain or loss. 

Annex two ciphers to -the gain or loss, and divide it by the cost 
price ; the result will be the gain or loss per cent. 

Ho/r to change gold into currency/. 

Rule. — Multiply the given sum of gold by the price of gold. 

How to change currency into gold. 

Divide the amount in currency by the price of gold. 

Hnv to find each partner s share of the gain or loss in a copartnership 
business. 

Rdle. — Divide the whole gain or loss by the entire stock, the quo- 
tient will be the gain or loss per cent. 

Multipl}^ each partner's stock by this per cent., the result will be 
each one's share of the gain or loss. 

How to find gross and net weight and price of hogs. 

A short and simple method for finding the net weight, or price of hogs, 
when the gross tveight or price is given, and vice versa. 

Note.— It is generally assumed tlmt the gross weight of Hogs diminished by 1-5 or 20 per cent, 
of itself gives the net weight, and the net weight increasetl hy K or 25 per cent, of itself equals the 
4fross weight. 

To find the net weight or gross price. 

Multiply the given number by .8 (tenths.) 

To find the gross weight or net price. 

Divide the given number by .8 (tenths.) 

How to find the capacity of a granary, bin, or wagon-bed. 

Rule. — Multiply (by short method) the number of cubic feet by 
6308, and point off one decimal place — the result will be the correct 
answer in bushels and tenths of a bushel. 

For only an approximate answer, multiply the cubic feet by 8, and 
point off one decimal place. 

How to find the contents of a corn-crib. 

Rule. — Multiply the number of cubic feet by 54, short method, or 

(207) 



208 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 

by 4i ordinary method, and point off one decimal place — the result wili 
be the answer in bushels. 

Note.— In estimating corn in tlie ear. tlie quality and the time it has been cribbed must l)e takea 
into consideration, si nee corn wiii slirinit consideraiily during tlie Winter and Spring. Tliis rule generaliy liold& 
good for coi-n measured at tlie time it is cribbed, provided it is sound and clean. 

Hoiv to find the contents of a cistern or tank. 

Rule. — Multiply the square of the mean diameter by the depth (all 
in feet) and this product by 5681 (short method), and point oil' ONE. 
decimal place — the result will be the contents in barrels of 31 J gallons. 

How to find the contents of a barrel or cask. 

Rule. — Under the square of the mean diameter, write the length 
(all in inches) in reversed order, so that its units will fall under the 
TENS ; multiply by short method, and this product again by -430 ; point. 
off one decimal place, and the result will be the answer in wine gallons. 

How to measure boards. 

Rule. — Multiply the length (in feet) by the width (in inches) and 
divide the product by 12 — the result will be the contents in square feet. 

How to measure soantUncfs, joists, planks, sills, etc. 

Rule. — Multiply the width, the thickness, and the length together 
(the width and thickness in inches, and the length in feet), and divide- 
the product by 12 — the result will be square feet. 

Hoiv to find the number of acres in a body of land. 

Rule. — Multiply the length by the width (in rods), and divide the 
product by 160 (carrying the division to 2 decimal places if there is a 
remainder) ; the result will be the answer in acres and hundredths. 

When the opposite sides of a piece of land are of unequal length, 
add them together and take one-half for the mean length or width. 

Hoiv to find the number of square yards in a floor or wall. 

Rule. — Multiply the length by the width or height (in feet), and 
divide the product by 9, the result will be square yards. 

Hoiv to find the number of bricks required in a building. 

Rule. — Multiply the number of cubic feet by 22i. 

The number of cubic feet is found by multiplying the length, height 
and thickness (in feet) together. 

Bricks are usually made 8 inches long, 4 mches wide, and two inchea 
thick ; hence, it requires 27 bricks to make a cubic foot without mortar, 
but it is generally assumed that the mortar fills 1-G of the space. 

Hotv to find the number of shingles required in a roof. 

Rule. — Multiply the number of square feet in the roof by 8, if the 
shingles are exposed 4J inches, or by 7 1-5 if exposed 5 inches. 

To find the number of square feet, multiply the length of the roof by 
twice the length of the rafters. 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 209 

To find the length of the rafters, at one-fourth pitch, multiply the 
■width of the building by .56 (hundredths) ; at one-third pitch, by .6 
(tenths) ; at two-fifths pitch, by .64 (hundredths) ; at one-half 
pitch, by .71 (hundredths). This gives the length of the rafters from 
the apex to the end of the wall, and whatever they are to project must be 
taken into consideration. 

Note.— By Ji or >^ pitch is meant that the apex or comb of thereof is to be J< or >< the widtli of the 
^building: liig:her than the walls or base of the rafters. 

How to reckon the cost of hay. 

Rule. — Multiply the number of pounds by half the price per ton, 
And remove the decimal point three places to the left. 

ffow to measure grain. 

Rule. — Level the grain ; ascertain the space it occupies in cubic 
feet ; multiply the number of cubic feet by 8, and point off one place to 
the left. 

Note.— Exactness requires the addition to every three hundred bushels of one extra bushel. 

The foregoing rule may be used for finding the number of gallons, by 
multiplying the number of bushels by 8. 

If the corn in the box is in tlie ear, divide the answer bj' 2, to find 
the number of bushels of shelled com, because it requires 2 bushels of eai 
corn to make 1 of shelled corn. 

Rapid rules for measuring land without instruments. 

In measuring land, the first thing to ascertain is the contents of any 
■given plot in square 3'ards ; then, given the number of yards, find out the 
number of rods and acres. 

The most ancient and simplest measure of distance is a step. Now, 
an ordinai-y-sized man can train himself to cover one yard at a stride, on 
the average, with sufficient accuracy for ordinary purposes. 

To make use of this means of measuring distances, it is essential to 
walk in a straight line ; to do this, fix the e3-e on two objects in a line 
straight aliead, one comparativel}* near, the other remote ; and, in walk- 
ing, keep these objects constantly in line. 

Farmers and others by adopting the following simple and ingenious con- 
trivance.^ may always carry with them the scale to construct a correct yard 
■measure. 

Take a foot rule, and commencing at the base of the little finger of 
the left hand, mark the quarters of the foot on the outer borders of the 
left arm, pricking in the marks with indelible ink. 

To find how many rods in length will make an acre, the width being given. 
Rule. — Divide 160 by the width, and the quotient will be the answer. 



208 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 

by 4i ordinary method, and point off one decimal place — the result wili 
be the answer in bushels. 

NOTK.— In esttm.itiii^ corn in the ear. the quality and the time it lias been cribbed must he taken 
into consideration, si nee corn will shrink consiilerably during the Winter and Spring. This rule generally Iiold& 
good for corn measured at the time it is cribbed, provided it is sound and clean. 

How to find the contents of a cistern or tank. 

Rule. — Multiply the st^uare of the mean diameter by the depth (all 
in feet) and this product by 5681 (short method), and point off one 
decimal place — the result will be the contents in barrels of 31* gallons. 

How to find the contents of a barrel or cask. 

Rule. — Under the square of the mean diameter, write the length, 
(all in inches) in reversed order, so that its units will fall under the 
tens ; multiply by short method, and this product again by -430 ; point 
off one decimal place, and the result will be the answer in wine gallons. 

How to measure hoards. 

Rule. — Multiply the length (in feet) by the width (in inches) and 
divide the product by 12 — the result will be the contents in square feet. 

How to measure scantlinf/s, joists, planks, sills, etc. 

Rule. — Multiply the width, the thickness, and the length together 
(the width and thickness in inches, and the length in feet), and divide 
the product by 12 — the result will be square feet. 

How to find the number of acres in a body of land. 

Rule. — Multiply the length by the width (in rods), and divide the 
product by 160 (carrying the division to 2 decimal places if there is a. 
remainder) ; the result will be the answer in acres and hundredths. 

When the opposite sides of a piece of land are of unequal length, 
add them together and take one-half for the mean length or width. 

Hoiv to find the number of square yards in a floor or wall. 

Rule. — Multiply the length by the width or height (in feet), and 
divide the product by 9, the result will be square yards. 

Hotv to find the number of bricks required in a building. 

Rule. — Multiply the number of cubic feet by 22*. 

The number of cubic feet is found by multiplying the length, height 
and thickness (in feet) together. 

Bricks are usually made 8 inches long, 4 inches wide, and two iuchea 
thick ; hence, it requires 27 bricks to make a cubic foot without mortar, 
but it is generally assumed that the mortar fills 1-6 of the space. 

Hoiv to find the number of shingles required in a roof. 

Rule. — Multiply the number of square feet in the roof by 8, if the 
shingles are exjjosed IJ inches, or by 7 1-5 if exposed o inches. 

To find the number of square feet, multiply the length of the roof by 
twice the length of the rafters. 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 209 

To find the length of the rafters, at one-fourth pitch, multiply the 
•width of the building by .56 (hundredths) ; at ONE-THIRD pitch, by .6 
(tenths) ; at two-fifths pitch, by .64 (hundredths) ; at one-half 
pitch, by .71 (hundredths). This gives the length of the rafters from 
the apex to the end of the wall, and whatever they are to project must be 
taken into consideration. 

Note.— By X or )i pitch is meant that the apex or comb of the roof is to be K or K the width of the 
l)iiil(ling higrher than the walls or base of the rafters. 

Hoiv to reckon the cost of hay. 

Rule. — Multiply the number of pounds by half the price per ton, 
And remove the decimal point three places to the left. 

How to measure grain. 

Rule. — Level the grain ; ascertain the space it occupies in cubic 
feet ; multiply the number of cubic feet by 8, and point off one place to 
the left. 

NOTK.— Exactness requires the addition to every three hundred bushels of one extra bushel. 

The foregoing rule may be used for finding the number of gallons, by 
multiplying the number of bushels by 8. 

If the corn in the box is in the ear, divide the answer bj' 2, to find 
the number of l)ushels of shelled com, because it requires 2 bushels of eai 
■corn to make 1 of shelled corn. 

Rapid rules for measuring land without instruments. 

In measuring land, the first thing to ascertain is the contents of any 
•given plot in squar-e 3^ards ; then, given the number of yards, find out the 
number of rods and .acres. 

The most ancient and simplest measure of distance is a step. Now, 
an ordiaaiy-sized man can train himself to cover one yard at a stride, on 
the average, with sufficient accuracy for ordinary purposes. 

To make use of this means of measuring distances, it is essential to 
walk in a straight line ; to do this, fix the eye on two objects in a line 
straight aliead, one comparativel}' near, the other remote ; and, in walk- 
ing, keep these objects constantly in line. 

Farmers and others hy adopting the following simple and ingenious con- 
trivance., may alivays carry with them the scale to construct a correct yard 
measure. 

Take a foot rule, and commencing at the base of the little finger of 
the left hand, mark the quarters of the foot on the outer borders of the 
left arm, pricking in the marks with indelible ink. 

To find how many rods in length will make an acre, the width being given. 
Rule. — Divide 160 by the width, and the quotient will be the answer. 



210 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 

Ho^v to find the number of acres in any plot of land, the number of rods 
being given. 

Rule. — Divide the number of rods b}' 8, multiply the quotient by 5^ 
and remove the decimal point two places to the left. 

The diameter being given, to find the circumference. 

Rule. — Multiply the diameter by 3 1-7. 

How to find the diameter, when the circumference is given. 

Rule. — Divide the circumference by 3 1-7. 

To find hoiv many solid feet a round stick of timber of the same thick- 
ness throughout will contain when squared. 

Rule. — Square half the diameter in inches, multiply by 2, multiply 
by the length in feet, and divide the product by 144. 

General rule for measuring timber, to find the solid contents in feet. 

Rule. — Multiply the depth in inches by the breadth in inches, and 
then multiply by the length in feet, and divide by 144. 

To find the number of feet of timber in trees with the bark on. 

Rule. — Multiply the square of one-fifth of the circumference in 
inches, by twice the length, in feet, and divide by 144. Deduct 1-10 to 
1-15 according to the thickness of the bark. 

Hoivard' s new rule for computing interest. 

Rule. — The reciprocal of the rate is the time for which the interest 
on any sum of money will be shown by simply removing the decimal 
point two places to the left; for ten times that time, remove the point 
one place to the left ; for 1-10 of the same time, remove the point three 
places to the left. 

Increase or diminish the results to suit the time given. 

Note.— The reciprocal of llie rate is found Ijy inverting tlie rate ; thus 3 per cent. |M*r ntunth, In- 
Terted. Itecontes }i of a month. <)r 10 days. 

When the rate is expressed by one figure, always write it thus: 3-1, 
three ones. 

Rule for converting English into American currency. 

Multiply the pounds, with the shillings and pence stated in decimals.^ 
by 400 plus the ^Jremium in fourths, and divide the product by 90. 

U. S. GOVERNMENT LAND MEASURE. 

A township — 36 sections each a mile square. 
A section — 640 acres. 

A quarter section, half a mile square — 160 acres. 
An eighth section, half a mile long, north and south, and a quarter 
of a mile wide — 80 acres. 

A sixteentii section, a quarter of a mile square — 40 acres- 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 211 

The sections are all numbered 1 to 36, commencing at the north-east 
corner. 

The sections are divided into quarters, which are named by the 
cardinal points. The quarters are divided in the same way. The de- 
scription of a forty acre lot would read : The south half of the west half of 
the south-west quarter of section 1 in township 24, north of range 7 west, 
or as the case might be ; and sometimes will fall short and sometimes 
overrun the number of acres it is supposed to contain. 

The nautical mile is 795 4-5 feet longer than the common mile. 

SURVEYORS' MEASURE. 

7 92-100 inches make 1 link. 

25 links " 1 rod. 

4rods " 1 chain. 

80 chains " 1 mile. 

Note. — A chain is 100 links, equal to 4 rods or 66 feet. 

Shoemakers formerly used a subdivision of the inch called a barley- 
corn ; three of which made an inch. 

Horses are measured directly over the fore feet, and the standard of 
measure is four inches — called a hand. 

In Biblical and other old measurements, the term span is sometimes 
used, which is a ler.gth of nine inches. 

The sacred cubit of the Jews was 24.024 inches in length. 

The common cubit of the Jews was 21.704 inches in length. 

A pace is equal to a yard or 36 inches. 

A fathom is equal to 6 feet. 

A league is three miles, but its length is variable, for it is strictly 
speaking a nautical term, and should be three geographical, miles, equal 
to 3.45 statute miles, but when used on land, three statute miles are said 
to be a league. 

In cloth measure an aune is equal to IJ yards, or 45 inches. 

An Amsterdam ell is equal to 26.790 inches. 

A Trieste ell is equal to 25.284 inches. 

A Brabant ell is equal to 27.116 inches. 

HOW TO KEEP ACCOUNTS. 

Every farmer and mechanic, whether he does much or little business, 
should keep a record of liis transactions in a clear and systematic man- 
ner. For the benefit of those who have not had the opportunity' of ac- 
quiring a ijriinary knowledge of the jjrinciples of book-keeping, we here 
present a sim[ile form of keeping accounts which is easil)' comprehended, 
and well adapted to record the business transactions of farmers, mechanics 
and laborers. 



212 



MISCELLANEOUS IXFOKMATIOX. 



1875. 



A. H. JACKSON. 



Dr. 



Cr. 



Jan. 10 


To 7 bushels Wheat 


at $1.25 


*8 

6 
1 

48 
6 

17 


75 

30 
25 

00 
25 

50 


$2 

; 18 

2 

25 
4 

1 35 


~ 


" 17 


By shoeing span of Horses 


50 


Feb. 4 

4 

March 8 


To 14 bushels Oats. 

To 5 lbs. Butter 

By new Harrow .... 


at $ .45 

at .25 


on 


" 8 


Bv sharneninsf 2 Plows. 


40 


" 13 


By new Double-Tree. 


25 


" 27 


To Cow and Calf 




April 9 
9 


To half ton of Hav - . 




By Cash 


0(1 


May 6 

24 


By repairing Corn-Planter.. 


75 


To one Sow with Pigs 




July 4 


By Cash, to balance account 


15 








188 


05 


$88 


05 



1875. 



CASS A MASON. 



Dr. 



Cr. 



Marct 

u 

May 


I 21 

21 

23 

1 

1 

19 

26 

10 

29 

12 

12 

1 


B}' 3 days' labor 

To 2 Shoats _ 

To 18 bushels Corn 

By 1 month's Labor. . . 


.- at $1.25 

_ at 3.00 

at .45 


$6 
8 

10 

2 
2 

20 

18 


00 
10 

00 

75 
70 

00 
20 


$3 

25 

12 

18 
9 


75 

on 


To Cash . ^ 






By 8 days' Mowing 


- at lil.50 


on 


t( 


To 50 lbs. Flour 




July 
Aug. 


To 27 lbs. Meat 

By 9 days' Harvesting 

By (J days' Labor 

To Cash . 


.at $ .10 

at 2.00 

at 1.50 


00 
00 


Sept. 


To Cash to balance account 










K67 


75 


«67 


75 



INTEREST TABLE. 

A SIMPLK RCLK Fon ACCUUATELr COMPtJTINO INTERB^IT AT AXV GlVKX Pku CkST. KOK ,\NV 

Lkngth of Time. 
Multiply the principal (amount of money at Interest) liy the time Tpduced to days; then divide this product 
by the quotf^ntontalned l)y dividing 360 (the number of days In the interest yeart I»y the per c^nt. of Interest. 
&n<i the qnntietU thus itbtaiiied will be the required interest. 

ILLUSTRATION. Solution. 

Require the interest of 3462.50 for o'le month and eigiiteen days at 6 per cent. An S462.50 

interest month is 30 days; one month and eiRhteen days equal 48 days. 5462.50 muitl- .48 

plied by .48 Rives $222 0000; 360 divided by 6 (the per rent, of interest) elves 60. and 

tZa'J.OOOO divided liy 60 will t'lve you the exact Interest, which Is S3. 70. If the rate of 370000 

Interest in the above example were 12 per cent., we would divide the S222.0000 by 30 Bi360 \ 185000 

(i>ecause360illvlded by 12 gives 30); If 4 per cent., we would divide by 90; if 8 per 

cent., by 45: and In like manner for anv other per cent. 60y$222.0000i88.70 

180 

"420 
420 



00 



MISCELLANEOUS TABLE. 



12 units, or things, 1 Dozen. 
12 dozen, 1 Gross. 
20tbliig8, 1 Score. 



1 196 pounds. 1 lt;irrel nT Flour. 

200 pounds, 1 Barrel of I'ork. 

I 56 pounds, 1 Firkin of Kutter. 



24 slieet-s of papor. 1 Quire. 

20 quires paiier 1 Ream. 

4 ft. wide, 4 ri. high, and 8 ft. lung, 1 Cord Wood. 



MTSCELLANEOtJS INFORMATION. 213 



NAMES OF THE STATES OF THE UNION, AND THEIR SIGNIFICATIONS. 

Virginia. — The oldest of the States, was so called in honor of Queen 
Elizabeth, the "Virgin Queen," in whose reign Sir Walter Raleigh made 
his first attempt to colonize that region. 

Florida. — Ponce de Leon landed on the coast of Florida on Easter 
Sunday, and called the country in commemoration of the day, which was 
the Pasqua Florida of the Spaniards, or " Feast of Flowers." 

Louisiana was called after Louis the Fourteenth, who at one time 
owned that section of the country. 

Alabama was so named by the Indians, and signifies " Here we Rest." 

Mississipj>i is likewise an Indian name, meaning " Long River." 

Arkansas, from Kansas, the Indian word for " smoky water." Its 
prefix was really arc, the French word for " bow." 

The C'arolinas were originally one tract, and were called "Carolana," 
after Charles the Ninth of France. 

Georgia owes its name to George the Second of England, who first 
established a colony there in 1732. 

Tennessee is the Indian name for the " River of the Bend," i. e., the 
Mississippi which forms its western boundary. 

Kentucky is the Indian name for " at the head of the river." 

Ohio mea7is '• beautiful ; " loiva, " drowsy ones ; " Minnesota, " cloudy 
water," and Wisconsin, " wild-rushing channel." 

Illinois is derived from tlie Indian word Ulini. men, and the French 
suffix ois, together signifying " tribe of men." 

Michigan was called by the name given the l&'ke, fish-weir, which was 
so styled from its fancied resemblance to a fish trap. 

Missouri is from the Indian word " muddy," which more properly 
applies to the river that flows through it. 

Oregon owes its Indian name also to its principal river. 

Cortes named California. 

Massachusetts is the Indian for •' The country around the great hills." 

Connecticut, from the Indian Quon-ch-ta-Cut, signifying "Long 
River." 

Maryland, after Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles the First, of 
England. 

New York was named by the Duke of York. 

Pennsyh'ania means " Penn's woods," and was so called after Williaia 
Penn, its orignal owner. 



214 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 



Delaware after Lord De La Ware. 

Ne^v Jersey, so called in honor of Sir George Carteret, who was 
Governor of the Island of Jersey, in the British Channel. 

Maine was called after the province of Maine in France, in compli- 
ment of Queen Henrietta of England, who owned that province. 

Vermont, from the French word Vert Mont, signifying Green 
Mountain. 

New Hampshire, from Hampshire county in England. It was- 
formerly called Laconia. 

The little State of Rhode Island owes its name to the Island of 
Rhodes in the Mediterranean, which domain it is said to greatly 
resemble. 

Texas is the American word for the Mexican name by which all that 
section of the country was called before it was ceded to the United States. 



POPULATION OF THE 
UNITED STATES. 



Statks axd Tbrritories. 

Alaliama 

Arkansas 

California 

Connecticut 

Delaware 

Florida 

Georgia 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Ken tncky 

Lou i s i ana 

Mai lie 

Maryland 

Massachusetts — 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mississi ppi 

Missouri 

Neliraska 

Nevada 

New Hampshire 

N e w .1 ersey 

New York 

North Carolina 

Ohio 

Or'-«"ii 

I'lMiii^ylvanla 

Klioile Island 

Sou 111 Carolina 

Tfiiiit'ssee 

Texas 

Vermont 

V I rgi n ta 

West Virginia 

Wisconsin 

Total States 

Arizona 

C.ilorada 

iiakola 

District of Columbia 

Idaho 

Molilalia 

New Mexico 

Utah 

Wivhington 

Wyoming 

Total Territories 

Total United States 



Total 
ropulation. 



996.992 

484.471 

580,247 

537.454 

125,015 

187,748 

1,184.109 

2,539,891 

1,680,637 

1,191.792 

3ti4,;i!l9 

1.3Jl.lin 

72B.915 

626.915 

780.894 

1,457,351 

l,l«.!.Or)<) 

4311, rilK 

»-i:. '.!■>■: 

1,7^1.29,5 

122.993 

42.491 

318.300 

906.096 

4.382.759 

1,071,361 

2,86,5,260 
90.923 

3.. 52 1.791 
217.3.53 
705.606 

1.258..520 
818.579 
,330,551 

1.225,163 
442,014 

1.054,670 

38,113,253 



9,658 
39.884 
14,181 
131.700 
14.999 
20.595 
91.874 
86.786 
23.955 

9,118 

442,730 



88.655.988 



POPULATION OF FIFTY 
PRINCIPAL CITIES. 



New York. N. T 

Philadelphia, Pa 

Brooklyn, N. Y 

St. Louis, Mo 

Cliicago, 111 

Baltimore, Md 

Hostoii, Mass 

riiiriiiiiatl, Ohio 

N'cw- Orleans. La 

.San P'raiicisco, Cal 

BiUlal". N. Y 

WasliliiKLoi. D. C 

Ne%vark. -N. .1 

I i^vilU-. Ivy 

cli'VelaiKl. Olilo 

I'ittsliiiiK, I'a 

Jersey city, N. J 

Detroit, Mich 

Milwaukee, Wis 

Albany, N. Y 

Providence, R. I 

Rocliester, N, Y 

Allegheny, Pa 

Richmond, Va 

New Haven, Colin 

Charleston, ,S. C 

Indianapolis, Ind 

Troy, N. V 

.Syracuse, N. Y 

Worcester, Mass 

Lowell. Mass 

Memphis, Tenn 

Caml> ridge. Mass 

Hartford, Conn 

Scranton, Pa 

Reading, Pa 

Paterson, N, J 

Kansas City, Mo 

Moi»lle, Ala 

Toledo. Ohio 

Portland. Me 

Col u 111 I Ills. Ohio 

wllniliijrK.M. Del 

l>a>loii. Ohio 

Lau rciH'e, Mass 

IHica, .\. Y 

Cliarlestown, Mass 

Savannah, Ga 

Lynn. Mass 

Fall River. Mass 



.iggregate 
Population. 



942,292 

674,022 

396, 09» 

310,864 

298.977 

267.354 

250,526 

216,239 

191,418 

149.473 

117,714 

109.199 

105.059 

100.758 

92.829 

86.076 

82.546 

79,577 

71,440 

69,422 

68,904 

62.386. 

53.180 

51.03* 

50,840 

48.956. 

48,244 

46,465 

43,051 

41,105 

40.928 

40.226 

39.634 

37.180 

3.5.092 

3.3.930 

33.579 

32.260 

32.034 

31.584 

31,418 

31,274 

80.841 

30.478 

28,921 

28.804 

28,328 

28,235 

28,233 

26.768 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 



21: 



POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES. 



States and 
terkitories. 



states. 

Alabam.l 

Arkansas 

California 

Connecticut 

Delaware 

Fiorida 

Georgia 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massacliusetts... 

Michigan* 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

Nebraslia 

Nevada 

New Hainpsiiire. 

New Jersey 

New York 

Nortii Carolina. . 

Ohio 

Oregon 



Area in 
.sciuare 
Miles. 



722 

198 
,981 
674 
120 
,268 
,000 
,410 
,809 
,045 
,318 
,600 
,346 
776 
184 
,800 
,451 
,531 
,156 
,350 
,9P6 
,090 
,280 
320 
000 
704 
964 
244 



^OPULATTO^^ 



996, 

484, 

560, 

537, 

125, 

187, 

1.184, 

2.539, 

1.680. 

1.191. 

364.: 

1,321, 

726, 

626. 

780, 

1.457 

1.184 

439, 



1875. 



Miles 
R. R. 
1872. 



1.350.544 
528.349 



857.039 



• Last Census of 



1,721. 
123. 
42. 
318 
906, 
4,382, 
1.071. 
2,665, 
90. 
Michigan 



399 
Oil 
915 
915 

894 

351 1.651,91 

059 1,334.031 

706 598.429 

922 

295 

993 

491 

300 

096 1.026.502 

759 4.705.208 

361 

260 

923 

taken in 1874. 



246,280 
52.540 



States and 
Territories. 



States. 

Pennsylvania 

Rhode Island 

South Carolina... 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Vermont 

Virginia 

West Virginia 

Wisconsin 

Total States 

Territories. 

Arizona 

Colorado 

Dakota 

DIst, of Columbia, 

Idaho 

Montana 

.New Mexico 

Utah 

Washington 

Wyoming 



Total Territories. 



Area in ■ 

square 

Miles. 



Population. 



1870. 



46.000 
1,306 
29.385 
45.600 
237.504 
10,212 
40,904 
83.000 
53,924 



1,950,171 



113,916 

104,500 

147,490 

60 

90.932 

143.776 

121.201 

80.056 

69.944 

93.107 



965.032 



3,581, 
217, 
705, 

1.258, 
818, 
330, 

1,225 
442, 

1.054, 



38.113.253 



9.658 
39.864 
14.181 
131.700 
14.999 
20.595 
91.874 
86.786 
23.955 

9.118 



258.239 
925,145 



442.730 



Miles 
R. R. 
1872. 



5.113 
136 

1.201 

1.520 
865 
675 

1.490 
48& 

1,725 • 



59,587 



392 



375- 
■498 



1.865 . 



Aggregateof U.S.. 2.915,203 38,555,983 60,852 

• Included in the Railroad Mileage of Maryland. 



PRINCIPAL COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD; 

l^OPTJLATION AND ArEA. 



Countries. 


Population. 


Date of 
Census, 


Area in 
Square 
Miles. 


Inhabitants 

to square 

Mile. 


Capitals. 


Population. 


China 


446.500,000 

826.817.108 

81.925,400 

38.925.600 

36.469,800 

35.904.400 

34.785.300 

31.817.100 

29.906.092 

27.439.921 

16,642.000 

10,000,1X10 

16.163.000 

9.173.000 

5,921,500 

5.000.1M)0 

5.021.300 

4.861.400 

3.995.200 

3.688.300 

3.000,000 

2,000,000 

2.669.100 

2.500.000 

2.000,000 

1.812,000 

1.818,.500 

1.784.700 

1.500.000 

1.461,400 

1.457.900 

1.180.000 

1.800.000 

1,000,000 

823,138 

718.000 

600.000 

572.000 

350.000 

300.000 

350.000 

136.000 

165,000 

62,950 


1871 
1871 
1871 
1870 
1866 
1869 
1871 
1871 
1871 
1871 
1867 

1869 
1870 
1870 
1869 
1871 
1868 
1870 
1870 
1869 
1870 
1871 

1869 
1871 
1870 

1871 
1870 
1871 

'i'sii 
isVi 

1871 

isVi 

1871 
1871 

'isio 


3.741.846 

4.677.432 

8.003.778 

2.603.884 

204.091 

240.348 

149.399 

121.315 

160.207 

118,847 

195,775 

3,253,029 

672.621 

761.526 

292.871 

635.964 

11.373 

29.292 

34.494 

12.680 

357.157 

182.616 

15.992 

471.838 

497.321 

871,848 

7,533 

14,753 

368,238 

5,912 

19.353 

40.879 

218.928 

63,787 

8,969 

9,576 

7,335 

10,205 

58,171 

66.722 

47.092 

17.827 

21.505 

7.633 


119.3 

48,6 

10,2 

7.78 

178,7 

149.4 

232.8 

262.3 

187. 

230.9 

85. 

3,07 
24.4 

"26.' 

7.8 
441.5 
165.9 
115.8 
290.9 
8.4 
15.1 
166,9 
5,3 
4. 
2.1 
241.4 
120.9 
4,2 
247. 
75.3 
28,9 
5.9 
15,6 
277, 
74,9 
81,8 
56. 
6. 
6.5 
7.4 
7.6 
7.7 
80. 


Pekln 

London 

St. Petersburg 

Washington 


1,648.800 

3,251.800 

667.000 

109,199 




United States with Alaska. .. , 


Austria and Hungary 


Vienna 

Yeddo 


'ssslooo 

1.554.900 


.Tapan 






German empire 


Berliu 


'825.400 


Italy 




,Spain 


Madrid 


832.000 

420.000 

1,075.000 


Brazil 






Constantinople 










Persia 




120,000 
314,100 
169.500 
224.063 
90.100 
,45.000 








Mnnich 




Holland 




Aew Grenada 




Chili 








36.000 
160.100 

25,000 
177.800 

91.600 
162.042 

47 000 


Peru 

Bolivia 


Lima.. 




Buenos Ayres 




Denmark 




Venezuela 




Baden 




36.600 
43.400 
40.000 














Paraguay 




48.000 
30 000 


Hesse 




Liberia 




3.000 
15.000 
20.000 

10 ooo- 


San Salvador 


Sal Salvador 

Port au Prince 


Havti 


Nicaragua 




Monte Video 


44.500 






San Domingo 


20.000 
2.000 
7,633 


Costa Rica 


Hawaii 


Honolulu 



^16 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION 



POPULyLTION OF ILLINOIS, 
By Counties. 



COUNTIES. 



Adams 

Alexander. . 

Bond 

Boone 

Brown 

Bureau .... 

Calhoun 

Carroll 

Cass 

Champaign. 
Christian .. 

Clark 

Clay 

Clinton 

<Doles 

■Cook 

Crawford 

Cumberland 
De Kalb.-. 
De Witt... 

Douglas 

Du Page 

Edgar 

Edwards 

Effingham.. 

Fayette 

Ford 

Franklin 

Fulton 

Gallatin 

Greene 

Grundy 

Hamilton . . 

Hancock 

Hardin 

Henderson . 

Henry 

Iroquois 

Jackson 

Jasper 

Jefferson 

Jersey 

Jo Daviess, 

Johnson 

Kane 

Kankakee. . 
Kendall ... 

Knox 

Lake 

La Salle 

Lawrence.. 

Lee 

Livingston . 
. Logan 



AGGREGATE. 



56362 
10564 
I3I52 
12942 
12205 

32415 

6562 

16705 

II5S0 

32737 
20363 
18719 
I5S75 
16285 
25235 
349966 

I3SS9 
12223 
23265 
I476S 
I34S4 
I66S5 
21450 

7565 
15653 
I963S 

9103 
12652 
3S29I 
III34 
20277 
14938 
I3OI4 

35935 
5113 
12582 
35506 
25782 
19634 
11234 
17864 

15054 
27820 
11248 
39091 
24352 
12399 
39522 
21014 
60792 

12533 
27171 

31471 
23053 



41323 

4707 

9815 
11678 

9938 
26426 

5144 
11733 
11325 
14629 
10492 
14987 

9336 

10941 

14203 

144954 

11551 
8311 

19086 

10S20 
7140 

14701 

16925 
5454 
7816 

niSg 
1979 
9393 

33338 
8055 

16093 

10379 
99"5 
2906 

3759 

9501 

20660 

12325 

9589 

8364 

12965 

12051 

27325 
9342 
30062 
15412 
13074 
28663 
1S257 
4S332 
9214 
17651 
1 1637 
14272 



1850. 



26508 
2484 
6144 
7624 
7198 
8841 
3231 
4586 

7253 
2649 
3203 
9532 
4289 
5139 
9335 
43385 

7135 
3718 
7540 
5002 



9290 

10692 

3524 

3799 

8075 



5681 

22508 

5448 

12429 

3023 

6362 

14652 

2887 

4612 

3807 

4149 

5862 

3220 

8109 

7354 
18604 

41 14 
16703 



7730 
13279 
14226 

17815 
6l£i 
5292 

1553 
5128 



14476 

3313 
5060 

1705 
4183 
3067 
1741 
1023 
2981 

1475 

1878 

7453 
322S 
3718 
9616 
1 020 1 

4422 



1697 
3247 



3535 
8225 
3070 
1675 
6328 



3682 
13142 
10760 

"951 



3945 
9946 
1378 



1260 
1695 
3566 
1472 
5762 

4535 
6180 
3626 
6501 



7060 
2634 
9348 
7092 
2035 
759 
2333 



1830. 



21S6 
1390 
3124 



1090 



3940 

755 
2330 



3117 



4071 
1649 



2704 



4083 
1841 
7405 
7674 



2616 

483 



41 



182S 
2555 



2111 
1596 



274 



3668 



18S0. 



626 
2931 



931 



*23 
2999 



3444 



1763 
3155 



1542 
691 



843 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORJIATION. 



217 



POPULATION OF ILLINOIS— Conclxjded. 



COXJNTIES. 



Macon 

Macoupin 

Madison 

Marion 

Marshall 

Mason 

Massac 

McDonough. 

McHenry 

McLean 

Menard 

Mercer 

Monroe 

Montgomery 

Morgan 

Moultrie 

Ogle.. 

Peoria 

Perry 

Piatt 

Pike 

Pope. 

Pulaski 

Putnam 

Randolph 

Richland 

Rock Island 

Saline 

Sangamon _ . 

Schuyler 

Scott 

Shelbv 

Stark'. 

St. Clair 

Stephenson.. 

Tazewell 

Union 

Vermilion. . 

Wabash 

Warren 

Washington. 

Wayne 

Wliite 

Whitesides . 

Will 

Williamson. 
Winnebago. 
Woodford.. 

Total.. 



AQ6RB6ATB. 



1870. 



26481 
32726 
44131 
20622 
16950 
16184 
9581 
26509 
23762 
539SS 
II735 
1S769 

129S2 
25314 
2S463 
103S5 
27492 
47540 
13723 
10953 
30708 

II437 
S752 
6280 
20859 
12S03 
29783 
12714 
46352 
I7419 
10530 
25476 
10751 

51068 
3060S 
27903 
1651S 
303S8 
8841 
23174 

17599 
19758 
16846 
27503 
43013 
17329 
29301 
18956 



2539891 



1860. 1850. 1840. 1830. 1830. 



13738 
24602 
3125I 
12739 
13437 
1093 1 

6213 
20069 
22oSg 
2S772 

9584 
15042 

12832 

13979 
22112 

6385 
2288S 
36601 

9552 
6127 

27249 
6742 

3943 

5587 
17205 

9711 
21005 

9331 

32274 
14684 

9069 
14613 

9004 

37694 
25112 
21470 
lil8i 
19800 
7313 
1S336 
13731 
12223 
12403 
18737 
29321 
12205 
24491 
13282 



1711951 



3988 

12355 

20441 

6720 

5180 

5921 

4092 

7616 

14978 

10163 

6349 
5246 

7679 

6277 

16064 

3234 
10020 

17547 
5278 
1606 

18819 

3975 
2265 

3924 

1 1079 

4012 

6937 

5588 

19228 

10573 

7914 

7807 

3710 

20180 

1 1666 

12052 

7615 

1 1492 

4690 

8176 

6953 
6825 
8925 
5361 

16703 
7216 

11773 
4415 



851470 



3039 
7926 

14433 
474: 
1849 



5308 
2578 
6565 
4431 
2352 

4481 

4490 

19547 



3479 
6153 
3222 



H72S 
4094 



2131 
7944 



2610 



14716 
6972 
6215 
6659 
1573 

1 363 1 
2800 
7221 

5524 
9303 
4240 

6739 
4810 

5133 

7919 

2514 

10167 

4457 
4609 



476183 



1122 

1990 
6221 
2125 



(i) 



26 

2000 

2953 

12714 



1215 



2396 
3316 



(■I3I0 

4429 



12960 
*2959 



2972 



7078 



4716 
3239 
5836 
2710 

30S 
1675 

2553 
6091 



1574^5 



13550 



I516 



2610 



3492- 



*5 
5248 



2362 



1517 
1114 

4828 



'49 
55162 



218 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 



STATE LAWS 

Relating to Rates of Interest and Penalties for Usury. 



States and Territories. 



Legal I Rate al- 
Rate of| lowed by 
Interest.! Contract. 



Alabama 

Arizona 

Arkansas 

California 

Colorado 

Connecticut 

Dakota 

Delaware 

District of Columbia .. 

Florida 

■Georgia 

Idaho 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

Montana 

Nebraska 

Nevada 

New Hampshire 

New Jersey 

New Mexico 

New York 

North Carolina 

Ohio 

Ontario, Canada 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania 

■Quebec, Canada 

Rhode Island 

South Carolina 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Utah 

Vermont 

Virginia 

Washington Territory . 

West V'irginia 

Wisconsin 

Wyoming 



per cent 

. 8 
lo 
6 

ID 
lO 

7 
7 
6 
6 
8 
7 

10 

6 
6 
6 
8 
6 

5 

6 

6 

6 

7 

7 

6 

6 
lo 
lo 

lO 

6 

7 
6 

7 
6 
6 
6 
lo 
6 
6 
6 

7 
6 
8 
lo 
6 
6 

lO 

6 

7 

12 



per cent. 

8 

Any rate. 

10 

Any rate. 
Any rate. 
7 

12 

6 

10 

Any rate. 

12 

24 
lO 
10 
lO 
12 

8 

8 
Any rate. 

6 

Any rate. 
lo 

12 
lO 
10 

Any rate 

12 

Any rate 
6 

7 
Any rate, 

' 7. 

8 

S 

Any rate, 

12 

Any rate 
Any rate, 
.\ny rate. 
Any rate. 

lo 

12 

Any rate. 
6 
6* 

Any rate. 
6* 
lo 

Any rate. 



Penalties for Usury. 



Forfeiture of entire interest. 
Forfeiture of principal and interest. 



Forfeiture of excess of interest. 
Forfeiture of entire interest. 
Forfeiture of principal. 
Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Fine and imprisonment. 

Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Forfeiture of excess of interest. 

Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Forfeiture of ex. of in. above 12 per cent. 

Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Forfeiture of excess of interest. 

Forfeiture of ex. of in. above 7 per cent. 
No Usury Law in this State. 
Forfeiture of excess of interest. 
Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Forfeiture of thrice the excess and costs. 
Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Forfeiture of contract. 
Forfeiture of entire interest. 
Forfeiture of excess above 6 per cent. 



Forfeiture of excess of interest. 
Forfeiture of excess of interest. 

Forfeiture of excess of interest. 
Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Forfeiture of excess of interest 
Forfeiture of entire interest. 



* Except in cases delined by statutes of the State. 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 



219 



STATE LAWS 

Relating to Limitations of Actions : Showing Limit of Time in which 
Action may be Brought on the following: 



States and Threitories. 



Assault 


Open 


Notes. 


Judg- 


slander, 


Accis. 


inents. 


&c. 








Years. 


Years. 


Years. 


Years. 


I 


3 


6 


20 


I 


3 


5 


lO 


I 


2 


4 


5 


I 


6 


6 


3 


3 


6 


6 


20 


2 


6 


6 


20 


I 


3 


6 


20 


I 


3 


3 


12 


2 


4 


5 


20 


I 


4 


6 


7 


2 


2 


4 


5 


I 


5 


lO 


20 


2 


6 


20 


2o 


2 


5 


10 


20 


I 


3 


5 


S 


I 


2 


15 


«5 


I 


3 


5 


lO 


2 


6 


20 


20 


I 


3 


3 


12 


2 


6 


20 


20 


2 


6 


6 


6 


2 


6 


6 


lO 


I 


3 


6 


7 


2 


5 


lo 


20 


2 


5 


lO 


lO 


I 


4 


S 


5 


2 


2 


4 


5 


2 


6 


6 


20 


2 


6 


6 


20 


I 


6 


lO 


10 


2 


6 


6 


20 


3 


3 


3 


lO 


I 


6 


«5 


'5 


2 


6 


6 


20 


2 


6 


6 


lO 


I 


6 


6 


20 


I 


5 


5 


3° 


I 


6 


6 


20 


2 


6 


6 


20 


I 


6 


6 


lO 


I 


2 


4 


10 


I 


2 


4 


5 


2 


6 


4 


8 


I 


5 


5 


lO 


2 


3 
5 


6 


6 


I 


lO 


lO 


2 


6 


6 


20 


I 


6 


•5 


'5 



Sealed and 
witnessed 
Instru- 
ments. 



Alabama 

Arkansas 

California, 

Colorado 

Connecticut 

Dakota 

Delaware 

District of Columbia . 

Florida 

Georgia 

Idaho 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maine x 

Maryland 

Massachusetts 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

Montana 

Nebraska 

Nevada 

New Hampshire 

New Jersey 

New Mexico 

New York 

North Carolina 

Ohio 

Ontario (U. Canada).. 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania 

Quebec (L. Canada).. 

Rhode Island 

South Carolina 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Utah 

Vermont 

Virginia 

Washington Territory 

West Virginia 

Wisconsin 

Wyoming 



Years, 
lo 
lo 

5 

3 
17 

20 
20 
12 
20 
20 

S 
lO 
20 
lO 

'5 
IS 

20 
20 
12 
20 
10 

6 
7 

10 
lO 
lO 

4 

20 

i6 

lO 
20 
lO 

'5 

20 
20 
20 

3° 

20 
20 

6 

s 

7 

s 

20 

6 

lO 
20 

15 



PRODUCTIONS OF AGRICULTURE, STATE OF ILLINOIS, BY C0UNTIES.-I870. 



JOUNTIES. 
Total 



Adams 

Alexander 

bond 

Boone 

Itrown 

Bureau 

Caltiouu 

Carroll 

Cass 

Cbampaign 

Christiaa 

Clark 

Clay 

Clinton 

Coles 

Cook 

Crawford 

Cumberland.... 

DeKalb 

DeWict 

Douglas 

DuPage 

Edgar 

Edwards 

Effingham 

Fayette 

Ford 

Fianklin 

Fulton 

Gallatin 

Greene 

Grundy... 

Hamilton 

Hancock 

Hardin 

Henderson 

Henry 

Jrocjuois .... 

.lackson 

Jasper 

Jelferson 

Jersey 

Jol>aviess 

lobnsou. . ..... 

Kane 

K.;inkakee , 

Kendall 

Ivnox 

T-ako 

LaSalle 

Lawrence , 

Lee 

Livingston 

Logan 

Macon 

Macoupin , 

Madison 

Marlon 

Marshall . 

Mason , 

Massac 

MirDonough 

Mrllt-nry 

M.-[,t.aii 

Meriiird 

Mercer 

Monroe 

Montgomery 

Morgan 

Moultrie 

Ogle 

Peoria 

Perry 

Pfatt 

Piko 

Pope 

Pulaski 

Puitiain 

Itandolph 

Richland 

Rock Island 

Saline 

Sangamon 

Schuyler 

Scott 

Shelby 

SUrk 

St. Clair 

Stephenson 

Tazewell 

Union 

Vermilion 

Wabash 

Warren 

Washington 

Wayne 

Wlilre 

Whitesldes 

Win 

Willl.imsun 

Wlnrn'bago 

Woodford 




Other un- 
improved 



887,926 


118.57b 


13.83B 


17.761 


145,045 


42, SIS 


137.307 


89,886 


57,068 


35,491 


396,611 


41,866 


37.684 


63,44? 


186.864 


29.79:: 


92.902 


33.49:: 


419.3tig 


16,78E 


241.472 


19,80E 


118.594 


102,201 


146.922 


80,612 


150,177 


48,86f 


808.337 


45,21J 


348.824 


19,635 


105.50.') 


78,3.5C 


75,342 


40,33J 


334,502 


17.722 


168.53a 


29.546 


147.B33 


11.897 


164,874 


17,84:! 


.i65,45S 


66.80:3 


58,912 


57.586 


120.343 


56.33(J 


187.196 


93.46C 


141.228 


2,996 


80,749 


3,994 


228,132 


183,883 


49.572 


68,750 


175.408 


9:3.242 


193.999 


6.256 


88.996 


9:1.878 


311.517 


43.385 


28.117 


44,771 


140,954 


34,705 


266,904 


12.620 


322,510 


22.478 


78.548 


87.642 


90.867 


67.083 


118.951 


94.888 


94.147 


51,427 


156.5n 


82,076 


57,820 


3 


240.120 


34,646 


318,18i 


10,978 


164.004 


14,244 


330,829 


41.666 


207,779 


21,072 


533,724 


48.117 


87,888 


72.738 


328, 2 is 


13.071 


377,50.T 


13,462 


321,70<i 


17.39-1 


80,5,259 


18,153 


231.059 


81,224 


857.032 


89,450 


173.08) 


61.576 


166.057 


!'8.86l' 


809.453 


,il,739 


85.151 


:j:j,39t. 


861. 63.1 


52,64-. 


830.5116 


53,29:i 


494.978 


40,361 


134.17:i 


34,931 


282.809 


45,977 


98.810 


8:i,369 


276.688 


47,80-1 


893.450 


60.817 


144.820 


24.783 


316.883 


43.643 


170.789 


48.666 


93.754 


68.470 


94.454 


6.978 


833 785 


128.953 


5.5.980 


. 87.754 


19.319 


12.516 


37.271 


17,184 


140.764 


1«-J,274 


75.079 


.50,618 


155.214 


31.239 


72.309 


70.393 


421.748 


51.086 


96,195 


68.477 


85.331 


44.633 


310,179 


74.908 


138.129 


12,375 


231.117 


76.591 


254,857 


4:1167 


229,126 


45,268 


75.8,32 


83,606 


360,261 


53,078 


54,063 


37,558 


266.187 


27.894 


177 592 


,55.8.58 


147.352 


146,794 


92.398 


78.167 


889.809 


21.883 


419.442 


24.861 


18'(.448 


IIR.949 


a 11. .373 


:17.838 


82.5.504 


25.817 



Xumlier . 
1.491.331 



19,370 

'■"iigis 

2.658 

85.608 

16.803 

8.754 

33. 302 i 

6.604 

58,608 

19,173 

6,420 

5.225 

8,782 

3,274 

17,337 

87,185 

5,604 

6,551 

17,633 

7,316 

•3,851 

14,282 

830 

86,206 

16,786 

6:1,976 

86,710 

4,076 

2,565 

29.653 

4.505 

3.343 

18.480 

10" 

14.843 

31.459 

6:1.498 

5.991 

12,850 

778 

1,363 

45,779 

79,141 

399 

10,598 

2,283 

85.155 

34.399 

8.356 

3.873 

7,409 

41,788 

408 

9,116 

7,343 

13,676 

4.142 

2.976 

31,013 

30 

14,035 

57,998 

49,08" 

1,3.95 

22. .588 

666 

8.495 

1.376 

1.3.1 

14.913 

2.516 

280 

13.897 

9,302 



4.174 
1.170 
8 025 

80,755 
809 

19,9,38 

81.294 
1.810 
9,314 
2.783 
2.016 

l:l.701 

14,846 
.5,300 

31,138 
509 

14.583 
1.931 

10,486 
869 

37.310 
6.335 
1.64H 

1.5,237 

23,135 




Indian 
Rye. Corn. 



16,191 



700 

241,042 

13,276 

465,836 

75 

418,073 

18.165 

108.5 

18,360 



1,894 

500 

2.651 

144,896 

60 

550 

398,059 

106,493 

7,683 

106,096 

13.883 

77 



42,571 

365 

193.669 



21,700 

129 

181.378 

13 

161,112 

462,379 

57,160 

890 



888,768 



188,836 
103.406 
90.681 
267,764 
168,914 
271,181 



450,793 

120,206 

198,056 

55,839 

160 
550 



106,129 
73,261 

' 273.871 

-101,790 

811.801 

36.152 

289,291 

5ii 

18.196 

17.128 

497.038 

92,361 



26,38-J 
130 



38,137 
450 



243,541 

800 

89,804 

66,281 

18 

15.586 

184.630 

3.550 

537.394 

1:18,417 



44,806 


186,290 


266 



457.4.55 
J95.886 
176 
408,606 
178.139 



947.616 

43.658 

368.635 

599 

117.502 

734 

281.898 

860 

127,064 

123,091 

604,041 

195,118 

85.737 

610.888 

154.485 

4,904 

312,924 

84.697 

190 

11.695 

65,461 

693 

247,360 

128.703 

195.716 

351,310 

1,008 

111,334 

223,930 

83,093 

577,400 

160 

92.347 

232.750 

32.306 

69,062 

446 

10.4811 

329.036 

87.808 

100.551 

558,367 

SS.'i 

92,191 

325 

480 

1,849 

7,664 

221 

■2.193 

264.134 

2.260 

1.339 

40.96;i 

196.613 

861.398 

1,307,181 

173,652 

900 

125,688 

73,316 

36.146 

370 

10,95.'. 

45.793 

13,80:1 

651,767 

744.891 

357.583 

196.436 

5,580 

31.843 

350,446 

39.762 

1,057.497 

70,457 

44,928 

796 

1,031,082 

150,368 

2,279 

8:1.011 

247.658 

165.781 

266.105 

45-2.015 



Uusliels 
2 456.5781 



liu-sllcls. 
129.981.39.' 



Itushels. 
12.780.851 



1,562 621 

2,118 

78,410 

180.831 

249,568 

202,201 

5.712 

673,486 

164.689 

184,:381 

864 

1.996 
170,787 

3.468 
108,307 



20,989 

30 

6,240 

35.871 

4.742 

43,811 

186 

2,5,721 

2.772 

45,768 

10,738 

7,:108 

3,331 

1,619 

8,835 

80,171 

15.497 

14.798 

31.018 

11 540 

9,01 

7.5:i: 

37,508 

528 

19,759 

25.32!' 

11,677 

5,195 

131,711 

5U' 

415 

4,93li 

11.672 

1:13.533 

865 

96.430 

35.766 

23.86!( 

52-1 

9.16.=) 

5.93-1 

""f.'is.'i 

2.46t 

23.618 

12.93E 

5.16:: 

ll:i.547 

.5.871 

48.301- 

1,12) 

14,82f! 

26,16:' 

37,238 

89.22:j 

8.4IH 

3.68.') 

r4,517 

36,136 

49,18'J 

54-1 

,53.401 

89.86-1 

39.834 

4.38:i 

40.77b 

1.48.^ 

3,291 

5.53.'' 

6.67(1 

157,504 

99,50--" 

1,0 111 

9.34.'- 

85,30.-- 

8,309 

go,) 

7,707 
3,835 
3.40) 

20,00:i 
568 

23.073 

80.841 
931) 

33.686 

30.634 

1.008 

135.362 

59.027 
1.737 

52.476 



78 '212 

81.576 

8,665 

418 

31.658 

8.030 

6.838 

137.985 

20,426 



1,452,905 
844,230 
1,064,052 
466,985 
337.769 
3.030.404 
2:14.041 
1.367 965 
1,146,980 
3.924, 7-20 
1.88:1.336 
614.582 
1,019,994 
8l:1.257 
2.13:1.111 
570.487 
681.964 
403.075 
1,023,849 
1,311,635 
l,680,-225 
331,981 
2,107,615 
36-2,371 
6-20,247 
9B8,52£ 
665.671 
653.209 
1,508.763 
509,491 
1,051,313 
295,971 
73,5,25 
1,510,401 
17-2.651 
1.713,901 
a,541,68:i 
799,811 
611,951 
461,345 
887,981 
519,120 
1,286,386 
343,291- 
674. 33:1 
637.39! 
681.867 
3.708,31f 
517.35:3 
3.077.021- 
656.36: 
1.656.971- 
1,18-2.691 
4.221,641 
2,214,468 
1,051,54-1 
■2.127,549 
1.034.05: 
1.182.90:1 
2,648.731 
133,136 
1,363,4911 
1, 14.5. 006 
:l. 783,371- 
1.97:1,881 
3.054.962 
543.71t 
1.687.898 
3.198.836 
1.753,141 
1,787.066 
969.324 
384.446 
1.029.785 
1.399.188 
315,968 
195,736 
334,359 
5IO.O8I1 
482.594 
1.459,653 
.531.516 
4,388.763 
440,975 
7,52.771 
2,088.578 
1,149 878 
1,483 131 
1.615.679 
2,062.053 
679.753 
3.818027 
421.361 
2.983.853 
836.115 
1.179.291 
870.521 
2.168.943 
1.131.468 
655,710 
1,337.406 
2.154.185 



759,074 
31,637 
461,097 
579,137 
70,852 
987,436 
36,831 
775,10a 
168,784 
731,375 
383,831 
318.688 
369.945 
446.:K4 
315 954 
1., 584,885 
136,855 
171,881) 
1,087,074 
816,766 
386,074 
860,809 
390,679 
ia9.15-2 
386.073 
497,395 
154,589 
8^2-2,426 
261,390 
87,164 
64,029 
269.338 
203.464 
579.599 
26,991 
329,286 
668.367 
430,74ti 
149.931 
149,314 
28.5,949 
71.770 
874,016 
74,525 
785.608 
772,408 
468,890 
787,952 
699,069 
1,509,642 
131,386 
90:1,197 
659,300 
490.226 
454,648 
459,417 
47,5.252 
389,446 
368.604 
873.660 
82.097 
280.717 
910.397 
911.127 
235.0H1 
452. 8H9 
152.251 
668.484 
198,784 
363.992 
141.540 
334.898 
338,760 
130,610 
161,419 
67,886 
16,511 
86,5 19i 
414.487 
201 634 
276.57.'> 
69.7113 
397.718 
119.3.53 
13,462 
637.812 
316.726 
476,851 
960.620 
.505.8 1 1 
124. 1 r3 
436 "-'■'1 
1111,793 
601.0.54 
533.39S 
40!.!82 
119.6f.-; 
8H1I 838 
1,868 682 
180.986 
86-< 903 
71l.5!i» 



.x^ 






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07n/ J^/, 



a^a^-z^co 



PLEASANT GROVE TP. 



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\ 




HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY.^^ 

HISTORY is the camera through which we view the events of countries 
and people. It records tlie noble deeds of the soldier and the states- 
man, and stands the proud monument of a country's greatness. It is history, 
sacred though it be, that tells us of the glory of Eden, and the purity and 
happiness of the first pair in its Ely.'iian fields, and likewise of their trans- 
gression and fall. And through the sixty centuries that have passed since the 
world's dawn, it is history that presents to us, whether in types, in hieroglyph- 
ics or in tradition, all that we know of men and things past. The events 
which constitute the annals of ;i country are matters of at least some local 
interest, and be that country ever so "■bcautiless, barren and bleak," it con- 
tains something of sufficient importance to be engraved upon the pages of 
history. How much more important, then, that the fertile region of which we 
propose to treat in these pages should become a matter of record, and form a 
part of the history of a great State and a great country. 

A history of Coles County is a part of the history of America. Every 
portion of a thing goes to make up and becomes a part of the whole. The 
population of this county constitutes a part of the forty millions of American 
citizens who people this country, and their absolute wealth and prosperity make 
a part of our national wealth and material greatness. The intelligence of its 
people form a part of our intelligence as a nation. The patriotism and self- 
sacrificing devotion of its sons, the gallantry and prowess of its soldiers on a 
hundred battlefields, are no mean part of the pride and glory of this great 
American nation. 

The age of Coles County (as such) is two years less than half a .century, 
but the date of its settlement extends back nearly a decade beyond its organi- 
zation as a county. Within that time, the events that have transpired and the 
scenes that have been enacted upon its soil, will be the subject-matter of these 
pages. Taking it from the time of its occupancy by the Indians, we will 
endeavor to trace its progress from that wilderness state to the present period 
of its wealth and prosperity. Its growth has been rapid and wonderful beyond 
the wildest dreams of the pioneers who first set foot within its borders. 

The present tei-ritory of the county was formerly a part of the State of 
Virginia, and ceded by her to the United States in 1784, and was called the 
Northwest Territory. Virginia was the home of the " Father of his Country," 



224 ■ HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

and prides herself still on being the mother of the nation's best Presidents ; so 
Coles County comes of no ignoble ancestry. In 1778, Virginia organized 
what is now Illinois into one county, which, some years later, received the name 
of St. Clair, from the then Governor of the Northwest Territory. In 1809, 
Illinois was organized into a separate Territory, and was composed at the time 
of two counties — St. Clair and Randolph. After this, Madison was set off 
from St. Clair, and Crawford was afterward set off from Madison. When 
Illinois was received into the sisterhood of States, in 1818, there were but 
fifteen counties, of which Crawford was one. This county was named for Hon. 
William H. Crawford, who was reputed an honest man, and a safe custodian of 
public money ; for under the administration of Madison and Monroe he was 
Seci-etary of the Treasury, and also a candidate for the Presidency in the 
Adams and .Jackson campaign of 1824. During the year 1819, Clark County 
was set off from Crawford. It then embraced a large extent of territory run- 
ning up the valley of the Wabash, and far beyond, even to the Canada line, 
or British possessions. Clark County was named in honor of Gen. George 
Rogers Clarke, a native of Virginia, and a pioneer warrior of considerable 
celebrity. In 1779, more than a quarter of a century before the organization 
of Illinois into a separate Territory, he organized an army in Virginia, and 
marched it across the Alleghany Mountains to the Ohio River. A few years 
later, the world rung with the mighty achievement of Napoleon crossing the 
Alps with a great army, but to our mind, the deed no more than equaled that 
of Clarke in crossing the Alleghanies and traversing a wilderness with his little 
band of soldiers, beset and harassed by hostile savages. He had never seen a 
steamboat nor heard of a railway-train, but he understood war and the trans- 
portation of an army. He built rafts, and on them shipped his soldiers down 
the Ohio to the spot where Shawneetown now stands, and then by forced 
marches through swamps and marshes filled with water, often knee-deep to his 
men, he moved them across the country to Kaskaskia and captured that 
important post from the British. But all this belongs to State history. 

HISTORICAL AND DEriCKIPTIVE. 

Coles County was set off from Clark in 1830. It then embraced in its 
territory what is now Cumberland and Douglas Counties. Upon its organiza- 
tion, it was christened Coles, in honor of Edward Coles, the second Governor of 
the State, and elected to that position in 1822. As a general rule, it is not 
safe to name a child or country for any man while he is yet living, though he 
be a very Solomon, for we know not how soon he may fall. There is no secu- 
rity for a good reputation but in the tomb. This side of that "bourn" the 
proudest name, the most exalted reputation may totter and fall to pieces. In 
this respect, however. Coles County's namesake died with a name untarnished. 
Edward Coles was a man eminently fit to give a name to any country. He 
was a native of Virginia, rich, and a large slave-owner, and when he emigrated 



HISTORV OF COLKS COUNTY. 225 

to Illinois be brought bis slaves with him. A man who loved liberty, its fires 
lighted up his soul, and its benign influence dictated his action and inspired 
him with pure purposes and prompted him to noble deeds. Of all other men, 
he demanded respect for his rights, and to the rights and personal liberty of all 
other men he accorded the same profound respect. On reaching Illinois and 
becoming a citizen of the State, he set his slaves all free, and, in addition, gave 
each head of a family among them 160 acres of land. Such was the law at that 
time, that a man setting a slave free in Illinois, must give a bond that it should 
never become a public charge. To this very unsavory requirement of the law, 
Coles failed to yield obedience, for which little delinquency his case was adju- 
dicated by the courts, and he was fined $2,000. This fine he was never required 
to pay, and the cause which gave rise to it will never give rise to another of a 
similar character in Illinois, in the civilized ages to come. 

Coles County, at the time of its organization, was some twenty-eight miles 
east and west, and about fifty miles north and south, but at that time, as already 
noted, it included Douglas and Cumberland Counties. At present, it is bounded 
on the north by Douglas County, on the west by Shelby and Moultrie Coun- 
ties, on the south by Cumberland, and on the east by Clark and Edgar Coun- 
ties. It embraces twenty-four sections of Township eleven north, and all of 
Townships 12 and 13, and eighteen sections of Township 14 north, in 
Ranges 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 east, and a part of Range 14 west. Range 11 
east in this county is fractional, being only three-fourths of a mile wide. In 
the southeast part of the county there is a "jog " in the east line of three sec- 
tions wide east and west, in Range 14 west, and seven sections long north and 
and south, in Townships 11 and 12 north. When Coles County was set off 
from Clark, the latter was unwilling to give up that portion of its territory 
and inhabitants to a new county. The reason of this is found in the fact that 
it embraced the best poi'tion of that county, and a settlement of energetic and 
intelligent people. In the north line of the county, there is also a "jog" of 
two miles north, in Ranges 11 east and 14 -west. This was made to retain 
the village of Oakland in this county, when Douglas County was created. That 
village was then regarded as having great room for outgrowth and development. 
This county was unwilling to give up that portion of its territory, and the peo- 
ple of that village were unwilling to be given over to a new county organiza- 
tion. Coles County is situated in latitude 40 north and in longitude 11 
west from Washington, and embraces Ubout five hundred square miles. Its 
general surface is undulating ; not so level as to be regarded flat, nor so broken 
as to be considered mountainous or even hilly. It forms a beautiful plateau or 
table-land, and is about eight hundred feet above the level of the Gulf of Mex- 
ico. It is largely prairie, and constitutes a part of what is known as the Grand 
Prairie. This prairie is perhaps as large in extent, as rich in soil and as 
magnificent, originally, in nature's waving fields as any in the Mississippi 
Valley. 



226 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

In tlic topography of the county, the prairies form rather a notable feature. 
Tlie origin of tlicse great plains has been a source of much speculation. One 
theory is that the soil resulted from the decomposition of vegetable matter un- 
der water, and that the attending conditions were incompatible with the growih of 
timber. According to this view, prairies are at present in process of forming 
aloniT the shores of lakes and rivers. During river freshets, the heaviest parti- 
cles settle nearest the channel, and hei'e, by repeated deposits, the banks first 
became elevated above the floods. These natural leveoe becoming sufficiently 
hich, are overgrown with timber, and inclose large areas of bottom lands back 
from the river, by wliich they are frequently inundated. The waters on these 
flats, when the flood subsides, are cut oif from tlie river and form sloughs, fre- 
quently of great extent. Their sliallow and stagnant waters are first invaded 
bv mosses and other aquatic plants which grow under the surface and contain 
in their tissues lime, alumina and silica, the constituents of clay. They 
also subsist immense numbers of small mollusks and other diminutive creatures, 
and the constant decomposition of both vegetables and animals forms a stratum 
of clay corresponding with that which underlies the finished prairies. As the 
marshy bottoms arc, by this means, built up to the surface of the water, the 
mosses are then intermixed with coarse grasses, which become more and more 
abundant as the depth diminishes. These reedy plants, now rising above the 
surface, absorb and decompose the carbonic-acid gas of the atmosphere, and con- 
vert it into woody matter, which at first forms a clayey mold, and afterward 
the black mold of the prairie."* 

As we have said, the prairies form a notable feature in the topography oi 
the county, the soil in them being invariably deep, rich and productive. The 
original prairie grass grew very rank, often higher than a man's head. 
As a rule, the prairies occupy the high land and the timber the low land, 
though there are some exceptions to this. Timber abounds in the county, but 
is mostly confined to the valleys of the water-courses. The varieties consist of 
all the kinds of oak, hickory, walnut, elm, maple or sugar tree, cottonwood, 
hackberry and perhaps some others. There are still some very fine sugar 
orchards in the valley of the Embarrass River. Speaking of these sugar 
orchards and the excellent timber of the county calls to mind a stanza from the 
compositions of a local poet of Northern Illinois on a similar subject : 

" The limber here is very gooil — 
The forest dense of sturdy wood ; 
The maple-tree its sweets ali'ords, 
And walnut, it is sawn in boards ; 
The giant oak the axman hails — 
Its massive trunk is torn to rails ; 
And game is plenty in the Stale, 
Wliich makes the hunter's chances great. 
The prairie wolf infests the land, 
And the wildcats all bristling stand." 

■'Daviilbon'a llititory of llliuois. 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 227 

As fine poetical thought, the above effusion is of rather limited merit, but 
as descriptive of this country fifty years ago, the picture it presents is a very 
true one. Many years ago, in the settling-up of this part of the country, tim- 
ber was regarded as quite an object. Every land-owner was of the opinion he 
must have a piece of timber-land. It was believed that the settlement and im- 
provement of the country would render it eventually scarce. At one time, tim- 
ber-land sold more readily, and for a higher price than prairie. Such, how- 
ever, is not now the case, and a lialf-century of experience finds still an abun- 
dance of timber for all practical purposes. 

Beautiful lakes, high mountains and large rivers, are not characteristic of 
Coles County. But two streams entitled to the name of river, enter its borders, 
viz., the Embarrass and the Kaskaskia. The latter is better known in this 
section of the country as Okaw, but nearer its mouth it is called Kaskaskia 
altogether. The Embarrass, or Ambraw, as it is almost universally pronounced, 
is a beautiful sti-eam. It rises in Champaign County, flows through Douglas, 
and this county from north to south, and makes a tributary of the Wabash. It 
is the dividing line between Morgan and Oakland Townsliips, Charleston and 
Ashmore, and Pleasant Grove and Hutton Townships. Before the days of rail- 
ways and lightning news-carriers, this river was navigable, for an early statute 
of Illinois so declared it to be. During the time the law was in force, numer- 
ous vessels were built on this river, at a point near what is now known as 
Blakeman's Mill, and which went by the high-sounding name of the " boat- 
yard." Some of these vessels went down and out of the Embarrass, and down 
the Wabash, Ohio and Mississippi to New Orleans, and others foundered in the 
" Dark Bend," a spot where the sun never shines, except at high noon. These 
vessels were called flatboats, and were usually loaded with the surplus products 
of the country, consisting of such articles as would be of small loss if they never 
reached a market. This stream abounds in fine varieties of fish, viz., bass, cat, 
bufi"alo, pike and many others. The Okaw meanders through the township of 
Okaw, in the northwest part of the county. It is a dull, sluggish, running 
stream. Tiie water is muddy, has not sufficient action to clear and purify 
itself of " wiggle-tails," and other such " vermin." Under the law, it, too, was 
a navigable river for shallow water-craft, and is a tributary of the " Father of 
Waters." There are two other streams wliich have their source in this county, 
both of which are too small to be called rivers, and rather large to be styled 
creeks. They are the little Wabash and the Kickapoo, and each takes its name 
from powerful tribes of Indians once dwelling in this region of country. They 
begin or " head " in the immediate neighborhood of each other, but the Wabash 
runs to the southwest and the Kickapoo to the east. There is also a small 
stream in Morgan Township, rejoicing in the oily appellation of Greasy Creek, 
which possesses some notoriety, by reason of the peculiar manner it acquired 
its name. In the pioneer days, hogs were " mast "' fatted altogether, and in 
that neighborhood many hogs were stolen and butchered. It was the custom 



228 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

of the people, before turning their hogs on the " mast," to give them certain 
ear-marks, by which each man was enabled to identify his own hogs. To destroy 
the evidence of ownership, the thieves would cut off the heads of the hogs 
stolen, and throw them into this creek. The decomposition made the water 
greasy, hence the name Greasy Water or Greasy Creek. On one occasion, these 
pioneer pork-packers were overtaken in a deep ravine in the woods killing 
hogs. When discovered, they were in the act of " scalding " a lot, but their 
heads had been cut off as usual. When asked why they took the heads off at 
so early a stage of the proceedings, they answered that they " never could get a 
good scald on a hog while his head was on." In Ashmore Township is a creek 
that bearing the perfumed name of Pole Cat, so called from the great numbers of 
popular feline pet, to be found in an early day, in its immediate vicinity. This 
classic stream, like Greasy Creek, also has its legend. The following story is 
told in connection with the origin of its name : A new-comer to the neighbor- 
hood, encountered one of these little monsters on the banks of this stream. In 
the combat that ensued, he learned through practical demonstration the start- 
ling power of " this kind of a cat " to defend itself when assailed by an enemy. 
The new-comer was so overwhelmed with the success of the animal's defense, 
that he buried his clothes on the battle-ground, and returned home in the cos- 
tume of the Georgia Major, minus the spurs and the paper collar, and there- 
upon christened the stream by the name of Pole Cat. In the township of Ilut- 
ton there are two small streams called respectively Whetstone and Hurricane ; 
in Pleasant Grove are also two little streams, Indian and Clear Creeks, and in 
East Oakland, Brush Creek. 

In the county are numerous groves, or small bodies of timber, isolated from 
the main timber. What circumstances gave rise to their growth, or how long 
they have been growing, is not within the knowledge of those now living. 
Dodge Grove is in Mattoon Township, about two miles northwest of the city, 
and takes its name from this circumstance : In the early days, there lived a 
family near it, of the name of Whitley, and they owned a race-mare, known as 
the " Dodge Filly." On a notable occasion they took her to Springfield to the 
races. These races took place twice a year, called the spring and fall meetings. 
They staked the filly on a race, and lost. Being loath to give her up, they run 
her oflf and concealed her in this grove for three weeks. The party winning 
the mare came in search of her, and had the officers of the law to scour the 
country, but they failed to find her. Thus the filly dodged capture, and the 
grove captured the name of Dodge. Dead Man's Grove is in La Fayette Town- 
ship, on the north branch of Kickapoo Creek, and was formly called Island 
Grove. It took its present name from the fact that a man was found dead 
in the grove in March, 1826, supposed to have frozen to death. There was 
snow on the ground at the time, and, when found, the corpse was '' sitting at 
the root of a tree with a bridle thrown over the shoulders." The man's name 
was Coffman, and he lived in the Sand Creek settlement. He was carried by 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 229 

Samuel Kellogg on horse-back, without coffin or escort, to the Parker settle- 
ment, on the Embarrass, for inquest and burial. Seven miles north and west 
of Charleston, in Hickory Township, standing out in the open prairie, are 
what is called the Seven Hickories. They acquired that name because formerly 
there were just seven hickory trees constituting all there was of the grove, and 
what seems somewhat singular is, that hickory is a species of timber that never 
grows in the prairies. The original trees have paid the debt of nature, but a 
numerous progeny still survive. In Humbolt Township near the village of the 
same name, on a little stream called Fiat Branch, is the Blue-Grass Grove. It 
was formerly a camping-place of the Indians, and their ponies ate out the wild 
grass, when the blue-grass, as it invariably does in this country, sprang up spon- 
taneously in its place. It thus became the first blue-grass " patch " in the 
county, and hence the name of Blue-Grass Grove. The Dry Grove and Buck 
Grove are near neighbors, and are about four miles south of Mattoon. The 
great number of deer, of the antlered sex, killed by the pioneer sportsmen 
gave rise to the name of the Buck Grove. Dry Grove has borne that name 
from time immemorial. It is supposed to have been named by the "first man," 
and that, too, in a dry time, otherwise its name would have been different, and 
more appropriate. In the south part of the county, in the town of Pleasant 
Grove, is a prairie called Goose-Nest Prairie. The inhabitants have always 
been proud of the title, but the rest of the world seem amused at the novelty of 
the name, and the people's peculiar pride of it. About the year 1827, a 
pioneer, named Josiah Marshall, was looking at the country, and coming into 
this prairie from the summit of a knoll in its midst, observing on one hand trees 
literally dripping with wild honey, and on the other, nature's waving meadows, 
and beneath him a soil, deep, rich and productive, and probably having in his 
mind's eye the peculiar richness of a goose egg, in an ecstacy of delight 
exclaimed in an uplifted voice, " this is the very goose-nest." It has since 
borne the name. Just west of this prairie, in the the same township, is a point 
of timber known as "Muddy Point," but has no significance in history, save 
the peculiar appropriateness of the name. In the east part of the county is a 
portion of a prairie called Parker's Prairie, so-called from George Parker, its 
original settler. 

'^ EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 

Prior to 1824, what is now Coles County was a wilderness waste, unin- 
habited by civilized man. If any pale-face before that time had ever come 
within its borders as an actual settler, it is not known whence he came, who he 
was or whither he went. The red man of the forest held high carnival over 
the land, his camp-fires were seen in the distance, and it was his war-whoop 
and his death-song that broke the stillness, while his wigwam was the only 
specimen of a habitation made with human hands. Old Bruin reigned king of 
the wild beasts; the panther screamed, the wolf howled, and the gray-eyed owl 
hooted without the presence of civilized man to "molest or make them afraid." 



230 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

The forest was undisturbed except by tlie blaze of the tomahawk, and the soil 
untrodden, save by the wild beast and the savage and his pony. A half-century 
or more, white people have witnessed the grand march of civilization over this 
land, and to-day scarce a trace is left of the former presence of the aborigines 
of the country. In 1824, the first settlement was made in Coles County, by 
men whom God made white, and blessed with the light of civilization. Of the 
first emigrants, but few remain. Most of them have paid nature's last great 
debt, and the memories of those remaining are so impaired by age that but few 
facts can be obtained. The first settlers came from Crawford County on the 
Wabash River, where they had lived many years, building and dwelling in 
forts, and skirmishing with the Indians. As pioneers, they possessed an exten- 
sive experience. They were John Parker and his sons, among whom were 
Daniel, Benjamin, Silas, George and Jaraes Parker and families, and Samuel 
Kellogg and his wife Mary, in all fourteen souls, the latter of whom alone is 
living. The Parker's were formerly from Tennessee, and were good old-fash- 
ioned people. They dressed plain, lived rough and seemed to love the hard- 
ships and to delight in the adventures incident to the settlement of a new 
country. The soldier who leaves his home, sunders the ties of affection and 
bids adieu to loved ones, to do battle for his country, deserves well of its people. 
So, too, tlie pioneer, who goes out from the home of his childhood, leaving 
behind him the hallowed associations of youthful days, and the cherished objects 
of love and affection, hewing his way into the wilderness, and there settles down 
to build up a new country, and open a highway for civilization, is also worthy 
of credit among his fellow-countrymen. 

Benjamin Parker built the first log cabin, and thus became the first actual 
settler in Coles County, fifty-five years ago. That cabin was built on the east 
bank of the Embarrass River, just opposite the place where Blakeman's mill 
was afterward erected, and was in what is now Hutton Township. It was a rude 
afi'air, and a fair sample of pioneer strength and awkwardness, but nevertheless 
turned the rain, broke the force of the sun's burning rays, I'esisted the chilling 
blasts of winter, and kept out the cold, damp air of night. It also answered 
the purpose of a dwelling-house, and consisted of parlor, dining-room, kitchen 
and bed-rooms enough to sleep fourteen persons. The walls were of unhewn 
logs, and floor of puncheons, neither hewn nor " planed." It was covered with 
clapboards, weiglicd down with poles in lieu of being nailed ; the chimney was 
made of sticks and clay, and the " back walls " and "jambs " of the same mate- 
rial, except the quantity of clay was increased. The help to "raise" this 
cabin came from Crawford County, a distance of sixty miles. In those days, a 
house-raising was regarded as a " big thing " and were usually accompanied 
with a quilting, wool-picking or sewing " bee." to furnish an excuse for the 
women to come together for a little quiet gossip, tliough not perhaps, as at the 
present day, to talk of Mrs. Jones' new bonnet, or Mrs. Smith's old dress 
made over, or the way Mrs. Brown had her hack-haii- " fixed last Sunday." 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTV. 231 

Those little gatherings were occasions for much good eating and drinking, the 
latter, however, being indulged in by the men only. And the best wrestler, 
the furthest jumper, and the swiftest runner were the heroes, and the best 
fighter wore oft' the belt, for at that early period fighting was always included 
in the popular amusements of the day. 

John Parker, familiarly known as " High Johnny " Parker, and the pro- 
genitor of all the Parkers (of this early settlement) was a soldier of the Revo- 
tionary War — one of the heroes of that long and doubtful struggle that finally 
resulted in the independence of the " greatest country the sun shines on." 
Samuel Kellogg, mentioned as one of this little colony, was a soldier in the 
Black Hawk campaign of 1832, and has since died, but, as already stated, his 
widow is still living, and at present a resident of Charleston. But of the pio- 
neers of this early settlement further particulars will be given in the township 
histories. 

In the fall of 1824, Seth Bates and his sons, David and John Bates, and 
his stepsons, Levi and Samuel Doty, came to the county, and in the summer of 
1825 made a settlement on Kickapoo Creek, in the present town of La Fayette, 
These were the first inhabitants in that region, and the settlement was made on 
what is now the Doctor Monroe farm. John Bobbins and William Wagner 
came in a year or two later. The former put up a mill in the neighborhood, 
and the latter started a tan-yard. Samuel Frost came the next year after Rob- 
bins and Wagner, and was one of the first merchants in this settlement, as noted 
elsewhere, and also carried the first mail through from Paris to Vandalia. In 
1826, Van Eastin settled in this neighborhood ; in 1828, his brother John M. 
Eastin came, and their father, Charles Eastin, in 1830. The following story 
is told of the Eastins, as illustrative of the proverb that " fine feathers make 
fine birds," or at least are supposed to do so. John Eastin, just prior to coming 
to this county, had married Miss Jennie Reed. The first Sunday they spent 
in the wilderness of Coles County, they attended church rigged out in their 
" wc<lding toggery," and their "new store clothes " ci'eated (|aite a sensation in 
this then backwoods settlement, and elicited remarks from everybody. The 
next morning before breakfast, six men came to see him to borrow money for 
the purpose of buying land, supposing from his extravagant style of dress, that 
he must be rich and have money to loan, when he really had but §6 to his name- 
In 1828, James Phipps settled in this neighborhood. As early as 1828 or 1829, 
James Ashmore, William Ewing and William Williams came in and settled 
on the south side of Kickapoo. 

A settlement was made in the present township of Ashmore as early as 
1825. The first white people in this section were the Dudleys and La- 
ban Burr, all bachelors, thus forming a kind of second Eden, as Eden was be- 
fore its quiet was disturbed by Mother Eve. To trace the genealogy of the 
Dudleys, it would be necessary to go back to Dudley Castle, Staffordshire, En- 
gland, and begin with Earl Dudley, in the fourteenth century, following it down 



i/ 



232 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTy. 

through a long line of nobles, of whom one of the most powerful was Robert 
Dudley, Earl of Leicester, and figured conspicuously during the reign of Eliz- 
abeth, the Virgin Queen of England. 1'heir published genealogy is authentic, 
giving the descent of the Dudleys here mentioned from this noble family. The 
first one in the United States was Thomas Dudley, Governor of " Massachu- 
setts Bay Colony." Many of his descendants held important positions in colo- 
nial times, and are to be found in almost every State of the Union ^t the present 
day. Many of them figured prominently in our struggle for independence, 
and their survivors and descendants are leading citizens of the country. The 
original settlers in this section were James and Guilford Dudley, and there are 
still sons of these pioneers living in the township of Ashmore, and are more par- 
ticularly mentioned in that chapter. James Wells, Christopher Sousely, Jo- 
•seph Henry, John Mitchell, William Austin, H. J. Ashmore and John Carter 
were also early settlers in this section. From them have descended some of the 
solid and substantial men of the county. 

The first settlement was made on "Goose-Nest" Prairie in 1829. Rev. 
Daniel Barham and sons John and Nathan, and Thomas Barker, put up the 
first cabin in this little paradise, in the spring of the year mentioned above. 
This settlement was in what is now Pleasant Grove Township, and embraced 
as fine a body of land as may be found in Coles County. Michael Taylor and 
his son Elijah, John and Patrick Gordon, and Dow Goodman, came in the 
same year, and found shelter in the same nest. Zeno Campbell, the Balahes 
and others, also came during this year and entered claims on "Goose-Nest" 
Prairie, or adjacent thereto. In the fall of 1830, John J. Adams, Mark 
Baker and William Wayne settled in the neighborhood. The Muddy Point 
settlement was likewise in Pleasant Grove Township. The first squatters here 
were Isaac Franchor and Buck Ilouchin, who pitched their tents in this local- 
ity in 1S27. Jack Price came in 1828 ; Joseph Glenn, Daniel Edson (not the 
inventor of the phonograph), Daniel Beals and his sons, in 1829, and William 
Dryden and Alfred Balch in the same year. In the fall of 1830, William 
Gammill and sons, his sons-in-law, A. Balch and Isaac Odell and Abner John- 
ston, came in and settled in this neighborhood. 

A settlement was made on the west side of the Embarrass River, south of 
Greasy Creek, in the territory now embraced in Morgan Township, in 
1829-30. Daniel McAllister, Benjamin Clark and William Shattun were the 
pioneers of this settlement. 'I^hey were men of strong arms and brave hearts, 
well calculated to brave the dangers of a wilderness. They went to Big Creek 
(Edgar Countyj to mill, and sent their children four miles to school, and were 
thankful for even such conveniences as those. The widow of Benjamin Clark 
was the last survivor of these pioneers and three years ago (we do not know 
whether she is still living) was a hearty and hale old lady for her time of life. 
She spent eight weeks among the wolves and panthers during the winter of 1830, 
with six small children, while her husband had gone buck to the settlements 



HISTORY OF COLES couhtf. 233 

for provisions. There are few ladies of the present day but would shrink from 
such an undertaking, and it is with no disparagement to the sex that we make 
the observation. Our women are as true and noble, and capable of as great 
sacrifices when necessity demands them, as at any other age of the world, even 
that heroic period when they severed from their heads their "golden tresses" 
and wove them into bow-strings for their fathers, brothers and husbands to 
defend their hearths and homes. But think of living in a wilderness for two 
long, weary months alone with half a dozen helpless children, beyond the reach 
of help. The bravest woman might well shrink from it. 

The territory now embraced in Oakland Township contained settlements as 
early as 1829. In this year Samuel Ashmore settled in this region. Soon 
after his settlement, his sons H. J. and W. C. Ashmore came to the neighbor- 
hood. Samuel Hogue and James Black, sons-in-law of Samuel Ashmore, set- 
tled here also about the same time as those above mentioned. Where Oakland 
village now stands, settlements were made by Enoch Sears, Eli Sargent, Asa 
Redden and others. David Winkler and the Hoskinses settled on Brushy 
Fork. At the time of these settlements, the aborigines of the country were in 
possession of it, and had a village or trading-post in this vicinity. They were 
friendly, however, and lived with their pale-face neighbors in peace and har- 
• mony. In 1831, Stanton Pemberton and his sons came to the Ashmore settle- 
ment. A mill was built here at an early day by a man named Stevens, and a 
few years later another was built by Redden. 

The first settlement made in what is now Charleston Township was in 1826. 
In that year, Enoch Glassco and sons, and J. Y. Brown, came to the county 
and settled about a mile north of the present city of Charleston. In 1827, the 
Parkers came from the Embarrass River Settlement and located on what is 
now Anderson's Addition to Charleston. About the same time, Hiram 
Steepleton and Isaac Lewis were added to the settlement. In 1829, Michael 
Cossell, Jr., came to the place, and the next year his father, and brothers Isaac 
and Solomon Cossell came in and made settlements. In the same year, Charles 
Morton and family settled in the little community. He was an energetic and 
enterprising man. lie settled on what is now the Decker farm, and built a 
horse-mill, upon which many a pioneer ground the meal for his " corn- 
dodgers." Mr. Morton is mentioned in another chapter of this work as the 
first merchant, and one of the prominent business men of the county. Jesse 
Yeach also settled in the present town of Charleston. He came first to Illinois 
in 1824, and to Coles County in 1825. After this, he returned to Crawford 
County, where he " took unto himself a wife," and, in 1831, came back to 
Coles County, where he still lives, enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life. 

John Hutton came to Illinois in 1816, and, in 1824-25, settled in what is 
now Hutton Township. Says Capt. Adams, in his Centennial Address, he 
"made a hand building the first cabin, heard the first prayer made and the first 
sermon preached, and mourned at the first funeral in the present territory of 



234 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

the couuty." In 1826, a settlement was made by the Parkers on vhat was 
known as Parker's Prairie, and which lies partly in Hutton Township. George 
Parker and his sons Joseph, Daniel and Jephthah were the first in this immedi- 
ate neighborhood, and from them this beantiful prairie received its name. 
Joseph Parker killed a large bear, in 1828, near Buy ess Berkley "s, and many 
other members of the Bruin family were slaughtered in an early day by the 
pioneers. In the fall of 1826, there was a settlement made at a place called 
" Dog Town," which was also in the present town of Hutton. James Nees 
was the first settler in this section, but was very soon joined by Charles Miller 
and William Cook. Joshua Painter, Hugh Doyle, James Ashby and John C. 
Davis soon after made settlements in the same neighborhood. Anthony Cox, 
William Waldrufi' and Joel Connelly settled, also, in what is now Hutton, in 
1828, and Daniel Evinger soon after. The latter put up a carding-machine on 
what was known as the John Flenner farm. 

About 1826, a settlement was made at Wabash Point, in the present town- 
ship of Paradise. The first white settler was Daniel Drake. In 1827, Thomas 
Hart and his sons settled in this neighborhood, and in July, 1828, Silas and 
Adam Hart and others of the same name came to the settlement, so that if 
there was any part of the country that had a heart, it Avas this Wabash 
Point settlement. These people were a law unto themselves, and tolerated 
no lawlessness in their midst. When one committed a misdemeanor, Judge 
Lynch came to the front and gave to the culprit but a short shrift. In 
illustration of his peremptory manner in disposing of the cases upon his 
docket, the following instance is given: On a certain occasion, a man 
living in the settlement was caught in the act of appropriating to himself 
another's cowhide and potatoes. A court was at once organized, with 
Thomas Hart, Jr., as Judge. Silas Hart was appointed attorney for the 
defendant, and William Higgins and others, jurors. The trial resulted in a 
verdict of guilty, and the punishment fixed at twenty-nine lashes and banish- 
ment from the settlement. After the lashes had been administered, the 
defendant was shown a stai", in the direction of his "Old Kentucky Home," 
and bade to follow it, as did the wise men of the East. He waited not 
for the advice to be repeated, nor stood upon the order of his going; he 
ivent. 

In 1826, Charles Sawyer made a settlement in the southern part of what 
is now Mattoon Township. His family came on the next spring ; but a short 
time previous to their arrival, a man named Nash came to the settlement and 
occupied Sawyer's house. He injured himself one day, '"carrying a log, to 
make a bee-gum," from the effects of which he died. This was the first death 
in the Wabash Settlement, which was principally in what is now Paradise 
Township, as already stated, but extended into Mattoon Township. John 
Sawyer was another of the pioneers of this settlement. These are said to have 
been without bread in their families as much as three weeks at a time. They 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 235 

went five miles beyond Springfield to mill, and blazed the trees on th" route, 
in order to find their way back home, and swam the Okaw River into the bai-- 
gain. 

About 1833, a settlement was made in the present town of Okaw. John 
Whitney and four sons, William Bridgman and Jesse Fuller were the first s(juat- 
ters in this section. Henry and Hawkins Fuller and Nathaniel Dixon came in 
183o. The year previous, however, the settlement was increased by the arrival 
of P. M. Ellis, the Elders and Fred. Price, these people used to splice teams 
and go a day's journey to a horse-mill. In wet weather, they would go to San- 
gamon liiver, near Decatur, or to Parker's Mill, on the Embarrass River. 

EARLY FACTS AND FEATURES. 

Thus we have taken a brief glance at a few of the first permanent settle- 
ments made in Coles County. We have passed over the settling of the 
county in this brief manner, in order to avoid, as much as possible, repetition. 
In the township histories, which fiillow, the settlement of each will be taken 
up and considered separately, and everything of interest will be fully and faith- 
fully given, while in this chapter, matters pertaining more particularly to the 
county at large will be noticed. 

The pioneers of a country are always subjected to many inconveniences, 
and live a hard and rough life. When immigrating to a new country, one 
leaves behind all the comforts and luxuries of civilization, to endure hunger 
and cold, and most of all, to brave the dangers of a wilderness. At the time 
of settling this country, it was inhabited by wild beasts, and wild men but little 
less savage than the wild beasts themselves. They came here poor, and for 
years the struggle with poverty was a hard one. Think of a family without 
bread for three weeks, and living on wild meat, potatoes and parched corn ! As 
we look around us to-day, at the waving fields of " golden grain, ripening for 
the harvest," the droves of cattle grazing on the rich pastures, and the almost 
innumerable car-loads of grain and stock shipped to distant points, it is hard to 
realize what it was fifty years ago, and what the pioneers of that day under- 
went to produce this grand transformation. In the Centennial Address of Capt. 
Adams, already referred to, he says : " The early settlers were generally pooi', 
and liv3d on Congress land. Considerable improvements were often made on 
land before it was entered. The custom not to enter each other out was the 
local law of the neighborhood. It sometimes occurred that entries were made 
of lands by other's than the actual occupants. This invariably stirred up the 
righteous indignation of the settlement, and a meeting would be called, resolu- 
tions g,dopted and a plan of operation laid out. They at once went to work, 
tore down the house on the land ^and hauled it ofl^, filled up the well, gathered 
tlie crop, pulled up the fruit-trees and gai'den stuff, and removed the fences and 
other improvements. ' And then, if the party entering another out made a fuss 
about it, he had to climb a jack-oak or ride a rail." 



236 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

Not only were the people hard run to live, to " keep soul and body togethc-r," 
but when we consider the tools and implements they had to work with, we won- 
der in our minds how they managed to live at all. The old "bar share" and 
"Gary " plows would be objects of great curiosity to the present generation, in 
this age of magnificent plows — plows that will almost turn the soil, if put in 
the field, without team or driver. An old farmer told us the other day, that 
for years after' he settled in the neighborhood, there was but one wagon in the 
settlement, and one grindstone "and upon the latter," said he, "we used to 
grind our Gary plows when they become too dull to plow well." And yet we 
complain of hard times I Why, we don't know the meaning of the word, 
as compared to these early settlers, who broke down the barriers between 
the wilderness and civilization. Again, quoting from Gapt. Adams, "They 
hauled hay eight miles in winter on hand-sleds, sold their horse-collars to 
buy bread for their children ; rocked their babies in sugar-troughs, and stood 
guard over them to keep the wolves off, and fed them on venison and wild 
honey." 

Nor is the credit all due to the "lords of creation," in the privations 
endured in these early days. Noble women lent their presence to "gild the 
gloom" of wilderness life, and cheerfully shared the toils and cares met with 
in their new homes. Figuratively they put their hands to the plow, and, in 
cases of emergency, did not hesitate to do so literally. They drove oxen, 
assisted in planting, cultivating and harvesting the crops, besides attending to 
their housejiold duties ; and these last were much more onerous than at the 
present day. Then they included the spinning and weaving into cloth, flax, cotton, 
and wool. The wool was carded into rolls at the carding mill or machine, spun 
into yarn on the "big wheel " by the wives and daughters, woven into cloth and 
manufactured into garments by the same busy hands, for the family wear. If a 
lady was so fortunate as to possess a calico dress, she was the envy of her 
"set," just as the "lady of the period," who robes in satin and a "love of a 
bonnet," is the envy of her less fortunate sisters at the present day. But the 
half-century that has passed has made many changes, and brought us many 
improvements. We have grown much older in many respects, if not wiser, 
and become mere extravagant in our desires and more luxurious in our tastes. 
We cannot think of living on what our fathers lived on fifty years ago. Our 
very appetites have changed. The "corn-dodgers" and fried bacon our parents 
were glad to get, if .set before us at the present day, would cause us to elevate 
our "Grecian noses" to an angle of ninety degress. But this is as it should 
be. We live in an age of improvement, and it is but just that all should move ou 
together. It is not in a spirit of grumbling or dissatisfaction that we have fallen 
into a moralizing mood, but by way of contrasting the past and present, and of 
showing the grand march of improvement for the past fifty years. When we 
look back over the years that are gone, at the changes and improvements wrought 
in the land, we are almost ready to attribute it to the power of Aladdin's won- 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 237 

derful lamp. As a cap-sheaf to the reflections we have been indulging in, we 
give the following ^t';?j from the "poet laureate" of Coles County : 

"The old log cabin with its puncheon floor — 
The old log cabin with its clapboard door ! 
Shall we ever forget its moss-grown roof, 
The old rattling loom with its warp and woof? 
The old sticlc chimney of ' cat and clay,' 
The old hearthstone where we used to pray ? 
No! we'll not forget the old wool-wheel, 
Nor the hank on the old count-reel ; 
We'll not forget how we used to eat 
The sweet honey-comb with the fat deer-meat ; 
We'll not forget how we used to bake, 
That best of bread, the old Johnny-cake! " 

INDIAN HISTORY. 

When the first white people came to Coles County, there were plenty of 
Indians in this portion of Illinois. They were the Pottawatomies, Kickapoos 
and Winnebagoes. From Davidson and Stave's History of Illinois, which con- 
tains the most complete history of the aborigines inhabiting this country, that 
we have ever read, we make a few extracts with reference to the tribes that 
once occupied this section of the State : " The early traditions of the Winne- 
bagoes fixes their ancient seat on the west shore of Lake Michigan, north of 
Green Bay. They believed that their ancestors were created by the Great 
Spirit, on the lands constituting their ancient territory, and that their title of it 
was a gift from their Creator. The Algonquins named them after thw bay on 
which they lived, Ween-ni-ba-gogs, which subsequently became anglicized in the 
form of Winnebagoes. They were persons of good stature, manly bearing, had 
the characteristic black circular hair of their race, and were generally more 
uncouth in their habits than the surrounding tribes. Their language was a deep 
guttural, difficult to learn, and shows that they belonged to the great Dacotah 
stock of the West. Anciently, they were divided into clans distinguished by 
the bird, beai-, fish and other family totems. How long they resided at Green 
Bay is not known. * * * * Coming down to the era of 

authentic history. Carver, in 1766, found them on the Fox River, evidently 
wandering from their ancient place of habitation, and approaching Southern 
Wisconsin and the northern'part of Illinois and Iowa, where portions of the 
tribe subsequently settled, while others wandered further south. * * 

* * . * In the war of 1812, they remained the allies of England, and 
assisted in the defeat of Col. Croghan, at Mackinaw, Col. Dudley at the rapids 
of the Maumee, and Gen. Winchester, at the River Raisin. In the Winnebago 
war of 1827, they defiantly placed themselves in antagonism to the authority 
of the General Government, by assaulting a steamboat on the Mississippi, 
engaged in furnishing supplies to the military post on the St. Peters. 

" The Kickapoos, in 1763, occupied the country southwest of the southern 
extremity of Lake Michigan. They subsequently moved southward, and at a 



23S HISTORV OF COLES COUNTY. 

more recent date, dwelt in portions of the territory on the Mackinaw and Sanga- 
mon Rivers, and had a village on Kickapoo Creek, and at Elkhart Grove. They 
were more civilized, industrious, energetic and cleanly than the neighboring 
tribes, and, it may also be added, more implacable in their hatred of the Ameri- 
cans. They were among the first to commence battle, and the last to submit 
and enter into treaties. Unappeasable enmity led them into the field against 
Gens. Harmer, St. Clair and Wayne, and they were first in all the bloody 
charges at Tippecanoe. They were prominent among the Northern nations, 
which, for more than a century, waged an exterminating war against the Illinois 
Confederacy. * * * * Wiien removed from Illinois, they still retained 
their old animosities against the Americans, and went to Texas, then a province 
of Mexico, to get beyond the jurisdiction of the United States. They claimed 
relationship with the Pottawatomies, and perhaps with the Sacs and Foxes, and 
Shawnees. 

" The Pottawatomies are represented on earl}' French maps as inhabiting 
the country east of the southern extremity of Lake Michigan. At the mouth 
of the St. Joseph, falling into this part of the lake, the Jesuits had a mission- 
ary station, which, according to Marest, was in a flourishing condition as early 
as 1712. Here, an unmeasured distance from civilization, for more than half a 
century, the devoted missionaries labored for their spiritual welfare. These 
years of toil and self-denial were, however, little appreciated ; for, in Pontiac's 
war, they proved themselves to ))e among the most vindictive of his adherents. 
Disguising their object under the mask of friendship, they approached the 
small military post located on the same river, and, having obtained ingress, in 
a few minutes butchered the whole of the garrison except three men. From 
this locality, a portion of the tribe passed around the southern extremity of the 
lake into Northeastern Illinois. Time and a change of residence seem not to 
have modified their ferocious character. Partly as the result of British intrigue, 
and partly to gratify their thirst for blood, they perpetrated, in 1812, at Chi- 
caso, the most atrocious massacre in the annals of the Northwest. After their 
removal from Illinois, they found their way to the Indian Territory, and, in 
1850, numbered 1,500 souls." 

Tiie foregoing extracts give a pretty authentic history of the tribes that 
claimed this county fifty years ago as a part of their hunting-grounds. Tiiere 
is much in the nature of the Indian to loathe and abhor, and there is, too, 
much to pity and deplore. They claimed this great country, originally, by 
right of possession, if not of discovery, and it was no more than human nature 
that they should maintain their right to it to the last extrecLity. From a lack 
of civilization, they committed acts of barbarity shocking in the extreme, but, 
to a certain extent, excusable through ignorance of the "higher law" of 
humanity ; and even their deeds of cruelty, barbarians though they were, were 
often equaled by their more civilized but little less barbarous white neighbors. 
In an e«rly day, we are told, they had a trading-post near where the village of 





CHARLESTON 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 241 

Camargo now stands. In ^vas c^tniilishcd by two French Canadians, we believe, 
named Vesor and Bullbeiy. Tiiev :il.so had a cemetery, or burying-ground in 
this vicinity, and, once a yuav, a gnind powwow was hehl within its precincts. 
They were friendly toward the whites then sparsely scattered through the 
country, and, in their limited and ignorant way, religious. Says Capt. Adams 
in the address several times referred to in these pages : " Their ideas of heaven 
and hell they represented on dressed deerskins. On one side was painted a 
huge fire, and toward it some Indians going with bottles in their hands. This 
was a representation of hell, or the bad hunting-ground. On the other side 
were painted beautiful woods, abounding with deer, looking pleasant, and 
Indians going that way, dressed finely and seeuiingly happy. This was heaven, 
or good hunting-ground." The following legend belonged to the Pottawato- 
mies, and formed the basis of their the<j!ogy and origin : "They believe in two 
Great Spirits — -Kitchemenedo, the good or benevolent spirit, and Matche- 
monedo, the evil spirit. Some have doubts which is the most powerful ; but 
the great part believe that the first is — that he made the world and called all 
things into being, and that the other ought to be despised. When Kitche- 
menedo first made the world, he peo;)k'd it with a class of beings who only 
looked like men; but they were perverse, ungrateful, wicked dogs, who never 
raised their eyes from the ground to thank hi in for anything. Seeing this, 
the Great Spirit plunged them, with tiie world itself, into a great lake and 
drowned them. He then withdrew it fniin the water and made a sinsrle man, a 
very handsome young man, who, as he was lonesome, appeared sad. Kitche- 
monedo took pity on him and sent a sister to cheer him in his loneliness. After 
many years, the young man had a dream which he told to his sister. ' Five 
young men,' said he, ' will come to your lodge-door to-night to visit you. The 
Great Spirit forbids you to answer or even to look up and smile at the first 
four ; but when the fifth comes, you may speak and laugh and show that you 
are pleased.' She acted accordingly. The first of the five strangers that 
called was Usama, or tobacco, and, having been repulsed, he fell down and 
died; the second, Wapako, or a pumpkin, shared the same fate; the third, Esh- 
kossimin, or melon, and the fourth, Kokees, or the bean, met the same fate ; 
but when Tamin, or Montamin, which is maize, presented himself, she opened 
the .«kin tapestry door of her lodge, laughed very heartily, and gave him a 
friendly reception. They were immediately mi\rried, and from this union the 
Indians sprang. Tamin forthwith buried the four unsuccessful suitors, and 
from their graves there grew tobacco, melons of all sorts, and beans ; and in 
this manner the Great Spirit provided that the race which he had made should 
have something to offer him as a gift in their feasts and ceremonies, and also 
something to put in their akeeks, or kettles, along with their meat." * 

Davidson, in his history of Illinois, speaking of the psychology of the 
Indians, says : " Prominent among these was the idea that every natural 

* Schoolcraft. 

B 



242 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

phenomenon was the special manifestation of the Great Spirit. In the mutter- 
ings of tlie thunder-cloud, in the angry roar of the cataract, or the sound of the 
billows which beat upon the shores of his lake-girt forests, he heard the voice 
of the Great Spirit. The lightning's flash, the mystic radiance of the stars, 
were to him familiar displays of a spirit-essenee which upheld and governed all 
things, even the minute destinies of men ; while the Indian attributed these to 
the Great Spirit, an antagonistical deity was created in his theology, whom he 
regarded as the potent power of malignancy. By this dualty of deities, he 
was careful to guard his good and merciful God from all imputations of evil 
by attributing all the bad intentions and acts which afflict the human family to 
the Great Bad Spirit." 

The Indians, it is said, never killed a wolf. Old pioneers say that they 
held that the wolf, like the Indian, made its living by hunting, and, therefore, 
it would be wrong and cowardly to kill it. Even their dogs would not molest 
a wolf, and the ravenous little savages would follow a band of Indians for hours 
to pick up any dead or wounded game left by them along their route. Mr. 
Brown, of Ashmore, relates a circumstance that occurred near his father's, of 
an Indian who, in a frenzy of religious excitement, shot and killed a warrior. 
He was, by the tribe, considered crazy, and taken to a grove near by and tied 
to a tree (rather a novel insane asylum, and as it proved an ineffectual one), from 
which the Indian succeeded in making his escape. The incident is more 
particularly referred to in the history of Ashmore Township. 

Coles County claims its Indian battle-grounds. Though she can make no 
pretensions to any such memorable battles as Tippecanoe or the River Raisin, 
there is a tradition (but somewhat dim and misty) of two battles with the 
Indians fought on the " sacred soil" of Coles County, at or very near the same 
place. As the story goes, the first occurred in 1815, between a corps of 
Government surveyors, protected by a sufficient guard of armed men, and a 
large band of Indians. The whites were encamped on the Embarrass Hills, a 
little distance west of Blakoman's Mill, and, in addition to being well armed, 
were protected with artillery. Tlie Indians, in their usual style of battle-array, 
attacked them upon the flank, and with blood-curdling war-whoops threw the 
engineers and their guard (for a time) into confusion. They soon rallied, how- 
ever, and ascertaining tlie enemy's position, formed their line of battle and 
opened upon them with their artillery. A general engagement followed, which 
continued some time with great severity, finally resulting in the defeat of tlie 
Indians, with considerable slaughter. This is the prevailing tradition, but how 
much of it is true, we are unable to say. 

The other battle referred to occurred in 1818, between the " Illinois 
Rangers," under command of Gen. Whiteside, a pioneer Indian fighter, who 
figured conspicuously in his day in tiie Indian wars of Illinois, and a large 
band of Kickapoos, Pottawatomies, and "Winnebagoes. The Indians had col- 
lected in force in the Ui)per Embarrass country, and proceeding to the Kas- 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTV. 243 

kaskia settlement, committed many depredations among the scattered settlers. 
Among other things, they stole and drove off a large number of horses and 
cattle. Gen. Whiteside, then in command of the Illinois Rangers, as they 
were called, followed their trail to the site of the Blakeman Mill, where 
it crossed the Embarrass River. Near this point, the Rangers came up with 
the Indians, and at once prepared to give them battle. Skirmishers were 
thrown out, and a line of battle formed. A charge was ordered, and a shout 
from the Rangers was answered by one from the savages, and the neigh- 
boring hills soon echoed with the roar of battle. For some time the fight 
raged fiercely, but the Indians were defeated and the captured property re- 
taken. How many were engaged on both sides, and the losses sustained 
by each, are not known. Like the account given of the battle with the Gov- 
ernment surveyors, it is traditional. The trees in the neigliborhood, however, 
show signs of war, we have been told, and the scars made upon them with 
fire-arms have been seen by many living witnesses. But these little "scrim- 
mages " between the white and red races on the soil of Illinois are long past, 
and in a few years more there will be none left who remember the red man's 
wigwam within the borders of the State. 

ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY. 

It has been said by a late writer that " the native American mind tends as 
naturally to self-government as the duck takes to the water." The organiza- 
tion of new counties into corporate bodies with legal existence, while yet there 
are but a few hundred voters within their limits, is proof positive of the trite 
remark. In 1830, the population of this part of the country had increased 
to such an extent (for a wilderness) that the people began to think of forming 
a new county. What is now Coles County was then a part of Clark, as we 
have already stated, and Darwin, the county seat, was remote from the settle- 
ments of this region. In the year above mentioned (1830), a petition to the 
Legislature to have Coles set off from Clark County, was circulated by -Joseph 
Henry, George Hanson and Andrew Caldwell. During the session of 1830-31 
the act was passed by the Legislature creating the new county, which em- 
braced in its limits, as mentioned in the beginning of tliis history, the pres- 
ent counties of Coles, Cumberland and Douglas. The following is the act 
of organization : 

Section 1. Be it enacted bij the People of the Slate of lUinois, represented in the General As- 
tembly. That all that tract of country within the following bounds, to wit : Beginning at the 
northeast corner of Section Four, in Township Sixteen north, in Range Fourteen west of the 
second principal merijian ; thence vvest on the line dividing Townships Sixteen and Seventeen, 
to the eastern boundary of Range Si.\, east of the third principal meridian ; thence south on 
said line the line dividing Ranges Six and Seven, the eastern boundaries of Macon and Shelby 
Counties, to the southwest corner of Clark County, Township Nine north. Range Six ; thence 
east on the line dividing Townships Eight and Nine, to the southeast corner of Section Thirty- 
one, the east boundary of fractional Range Eleven east ; thence north on said line, which is the 
division between fractional Range Eleven and Range Fourteen, to the northeast corner of Section 



244 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

Ninctepn, i" > li'l r.iinge Eleven, iu Township Twelve north ; thence to the northeast corner of 
Section Tw-Mi.v 'HIP, in siiid Township Twelve, and Range Fourteen; thence north on sectional 
lines, the ciimi' of sai^l range, to the place of beginning, shall form a new county, to be called 
Coles. 

Sec. 2. For the purpose of fixing the permanent seat of justice of said county, the follow- 
ing persons are appoinieil Commissioners, viz.: William Bowen, of Vermilion County, Jesse 
Essarey, of Clark County, and Joshua Barber, of Crawford County ; %vhich Commissioners, or 
a majority of them, shall meet at the house of Charles Eastin, in said county, on the fourth Mon- 
day in January next, or within five days thereafter, and being duly sworn before some Justice 
of the Peace of the State, faithfully and impartially to take into view the convenience of the 
people, the situation of the present settlement, with a strict view to the population and settle- 
ments which will hereafter be made and the eligibility of the place; shall proceed to explore 
and carefully examine the country, determine on and designate the place for the permanent .seat 
of justice of the same : provided, tlie proprietor or proprietors of the land shall give and con- 
vey by deed of general warranty, for the purpose of erecting public buildings, a quantity of 
land, in a square form, or not more than twice as long as wide, not less than twenty acres. But 
should the proprietor or proprietors of the land refuse or neglect to make the donation afore- 
said, then and in that case the said Commissioners shall fix said county seat (having in view the 
interest of the county) upon the land of some person who will make the donation aforesaid. If 
the Commissioners shall be of (he opinion and decide that the proper place for said seat of jus- 
tice is or ought to be on land belonging to Government, they shall so report, and the County 
Commissioners sh.all purcb:\^-i' (ou'-lialf quarter-section, the tract set forth, in their name, for 
the use of the county. The Ciimniisfioners appointed to locate the seat of justice shall, so soon 
as they decide on the place, make a clour report to the Commissioners' Court of the county, and 
the same shall be recorded at length in their record-book. The land donated or purchased shall 
be laid out into lots, and .sold by the Commissioners of the county to the best advantage, and the 
proceeds applied to the erection of public buildings, and such other purposes as the Commission- 
ers shall direct ; and good and sulUcient deeds shall be made for the lots sold. 

Sec 3. An election shall be held at the several places of holding elections as now laid off 
by Clark County, in said Cols County, on the Saturday preceding the first Monday in February 
next, for one Sherifl", one Coroner, and three County Commissioners, for said county, who shall 
hold their offices until the next general election in 18:52, and until their successors be qualifieil. 
And it shall be the duty of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of said county, and if there be none, 
then the Recorder or Judge of I'robaie, to give at least fifteen days' notice previous to said elec- 
tion and who shall appoint the judges and clerks of said election, who shall be legal voters: and 
the returns of said election shall be made to the Clerk of the Circuit Court, Recorder or Judge 
of Probate, as the case may be, and by him, in the presence of one or more Justices of the Peace, 
opened, and they jointly shall give to the persons elected Commissioners, certificates; and that 
of the Slieritl'and Conmer to forward to the Governor; which election in all other respects be 
conformable to law. 

Sec. 4. All courts shall be held at the house of Charles Eastin in said county, and con- 
tinue to be held there until public buildings shall be erected for the purpose, unless changed to 
another place by order of the County Commissioners' Court, who shall make the same a matter 
of record. 

Skc. 5. The Commissioners appointed to locate the county seat, shall be allowed $2 per day 
each, for every day necessarily employed in locating the same, to be paid by said county. 

Approved, December '2b, 1830. 

This act gave to Coles Comity a legal being, and steps were at once taken 
to put the machinery of existence into operation. According to the provision 
of the act creating it a county, an election was held in February, 1831, at 
Ashmore's, the only voting place in the county, and about sixty votes were cast. 
At tliis election, George Han.son, Andrew Caldwell and Isaac Lewis were 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 245 

elected County Commissioners, and constituted a County Com-t for the transac- 
tion of county business ; a system wliicli continued in force until the adoption 
of a new State Constitution in 1848. The Commissioners mentioned in the 
foregoing act to locate the seat of justice, viz., Bowen, Essarey and Barber, 
met, and after a thorough investigation of all eligible points suggested, decided 
on the present site of Charleston. Charles Morton and and Benjamin Parker 
owned the land, and each donated twenty acres for town purposes, as provided 
in the act of organization. In February, 1831, the survey was made by Thomas 
Sconce, first County Surveyor, and in April of the same year, the first sale of 
lots was made. The Commissioners gave the name of Charleston to the county 
seat, in honor of Charles Morton, one of the men who donated twenty acres of 
land to the county. Feeling under some obligations to Mr. Morton for the 
assistance he rendered them while engaged in locating the town, they told his 
wife that they had determined to call the place Mortonville, when slie offered 
an amendment to their proposition, saying that if they desired to compliment 
her husband in that way, to add the last syllable of Morton to Charles, and call 
their town Charleston. They accepted her suggestion, and thus the capital of 
the county received its name. 

During the year 1831, the first Court House of Coles County was erected, 
down on the " town branch," as the murky little stream is called. It was built 
of hewed logs, covered with "clapboards," floored with sawdust and provided 
with wood benches for seats. This served as a temple of justice until 1835, 
when the brick building, still in use, was erected. Originally, it was an old- 
style edifice, of the pattern still to be seen in nfany of the counties of Illinois, 
but has been modernized, remodeled and transformed into quite an imposing 
structure, with an altogether attractive appearance. It stands in the center of 
a handsome square, thickly planted with maple-trees, and surrounded by a sub- 
stantial iron fence. In a few years more, when the trees get their growth, the 
public square of Charleston will be a beautiful spot, and an ornament to the 
city. 

The first Jail was a little log cabin, in the south part of the town, which, in 
an early day, perhaps, served the purpose of a prison ; but in this enlightened 
age, when crime has become a science, and criminals a band of professional ex- 
perts, would prove but a frail barrier between them and liberty. The present 
Jail is in the Court House building. 

The first Circuit Court was held at the house of Col. Flenner, three miles 
west of Charleston. Hon. William Wilson was the presiding Judge. This 
session of Court is thus described : " The Judge sat on a log, the lawyers on 
rotten chunks, and the parties engaged in litigation swung to the bushes." 
James P. Jones was Circuit Clerk, and was appointed by Judge Wilson at this 
session. Jones was a resident of Clark County, and his appointment to the 
oflBce of Circuit Clerk excited the just indignation of the Coles County people. 
They felt themselves competent to fill any office in their county, and well qualified 



246 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

to receive the salary pertaining to it ; and to have an outsider step in and relieve 
them of the responsibility of trying the experiment was a blow to their pride not to 
be forgiven. The first records of the Circuit Court are non sunt inventa, and 
hence, few particulars of the sessions for two or three of the first years can be 
obtained now. The first record-book in the Circuit Clerk's office begins with 
the April term, 1835, Hon. Justin Harlan presiding. 

As we have said, George Hanson, Andrew Caldwell and Isaac Lewis were 
elected the first County Commissioners. They held the first session of their 
Court in 1831, at the house of Charles Eastin, in the Kickapoo settlement, and 
appointed Nathan Ellington Clerk, who thus became the first County Clerk of 
Coles County. In 1882, Isaac Lewis, Andrew Clarke and James S. Martin 
were elected Commissioners, and, in 1834, were succeeded by Stephen Stone, 
Nathaniel Parker and Eben Ale.xandei', who, in turn, were succeeded in 1836, 
by A. N. Fuller, Alex. Miller and James S. Martin, and they by F. L. Moore, 
H. J. Ashmore and James M.Ward in 1838. The records here sliowa change 
in electing the Commissioners ; electing one each year, instead of three every 
two years, and that in 1840, John Wright succeeded Ashmore ; James Gill in 
1841, succeeded Moore, and William Collom succeeded Moore in 1842. In 
1843, Isaac Gruell and H. J. Ashomre succeeded Wright and Gill. In 1844, 
John Cutler succeeded Ashmore, F. L. Moore succeeded Collom in 1845, John 
M. Logan succeeded Gruell in 1846, and F. G. Frue succeeded Cutler in 
1847. 

The Constitution of 1848 provided that the County Court should consist of 
a County Judge and two dissociate Justices. Lender this new regime, W. W. 
Bishop was the first County Judge, and John M. Logan and H. J. Ashmore 
were chosen the first Associate Justices. This branch of the Court continued, 
with frequent changes of ofiicers, until the adoption of township organization, 
which went into effect in the spring of 1860, as will be noticed under another 
head. As a matter of history, and for the benefit of the reader, we append a 
list of the diff"erent officers from the organization of the county, the date of 
their election and the terms of their official service, as compiled by Capt. 
Adams, and published in his Centennial Address. The list was prepared with 
great care, is said, by those well posted, to be substantially correct, and presents 
a valuable record to :ill who are interested in such matters, or have occasion to 
refer to it. The list is as follows : 

Sheriff. — At the February election of 1831, Ambrose Yocum was elected 
the first Sheriff of the county, and re-elected in 1832, but died before his term 
expired. William Jeffries was elected in 1834, and held two terms, when he 
was succeeded by Albert Compton in 1838, who continued in office until 1846. 
L. R. Ilutchason was then elected, and served two terms, and was succeeded in 
1850 by Richard Stoddert ; he was succeeded by Thomas Lytic in 1852 ; Lytle, 
by John R. Jeffries in 1854, and he by H. B. Worley in 1856. Worley was 
succeeded by M. Jones, in 1858 ; he by I. H. Johnston in 1860 ; John H. 



HISTORY' OF COLES COUNTY. 247 

O'Hair succeeded Johnston in 1862, and James B. Hickox succeeded liim in 
1864, and, in turn, was succeeded by G. M. Mitchell in 1866, when C. C. 
Starkweather was elected in 1868, followed in 1870 by A. M. Brown, who was 
succeeded in 1872 by Owen Wiley, and Wiley by George Moore in 1874 ; 
James M. Ashmore succeeded Moore in 1876, and he was succeeded by John 
E. Brooks in 1878, the present incumbent. 

Probate Judge. — James P. Jones was the first Probate Judge. At the 
time of the organization of Coles County, this office was filled by appointment 
of the Governor. In 1834, Jones was succeeded by John F. Smyth, and in 
the same year, Smyth was succeeded by S. M. Dunbar ; he by William Collom 
in 1835; Collom by Reuben Canterbury in 1837; he by John AV. Trower. 
Robert S. Mills succeeded Trower in 1843 ; W. W. Bishop succeeded him in 
1847, and filled the office until 1857, when he was succeeded by Gideon 
Edwards, who died in office in 1864. J. P. Cooper was appointed to fill the 
vacancy, and, in 1865, McHenry Brooks was elected, and was succeeded in 
1869 by A. M. Peterson, who was followed by W. E. Adams in 1873; and, in 
1877, J. R. Cunningham, the present Judge, was elected. 

County Clerk. — As before stated, Nathan Ellington was the first County 
Clerk, and filled the office until 1839, when he was succeeded by Loran D. 
Ellis, who soon after fled the country, and Ellington was appointed to fill the 
vacancy. Ellington was followed, in 1840, by Enos Stutsman, who resigned 
his office, and Samuel Huffman was appointed to fill the vacancy. Tn 1853, 
James McCrory succeeded Huffman, and held the office until 1861, when he 
was succeeded by Jacob I. Brown. Brown was succeeded by W. E. Adams in 
1865 ; Adams by Richard Stoddert in 1873, and he, in 1877, by the present 
Clerk, W. R. Highland. 

Coroner. — Robert A. Miller was the first Coroner, and, in 1836, was 
succeeded by Ichabod Radly, who canvassed the entire county on foot for the 
office. (He deserved it.) Preston R. Mount followed Radly in 1838 ; A. G. 
Mitchell followed Mount in 1842, and William Harr followed Mitchell in 1844. 
Stephen Stone was elected in 1846, and was succeeded by James W. jNIorgan 
in 1858, and he by S. F. Crawford in 1860; he, in 1861, by Dr. Samuel Van 
Meter, who was succeeded bv D. P. Lee in 1862, and he by A. G. Mitchell in 
1864 ; Mitchell by 0. D. Hawkins in 1868 ; he by Joel W. Hall in 1870 ; 
Hall by D. H. Barnett in 1872, and he by Lewis True in 1874. 

Circuit Clerk. — James P. Jones, as stated, was the first Circuit Clerk, and 
was succeeded by Nathan Ellington, who held the office until his death in 1855, 
when his son, James D. Ellington, was appointed to fill the vacancy. In 1856, 
George W. Teel was elected, holding the office two terms, and, in 1864, was 
succeeded by H. C. Wortham, and he by W. N. McDonald in 1872. He died 
in December following his election, and A. H. Chapman was appointed Clerk 
pro tempore, and was succeeded in June, 1873, by E. E. Clark, who was suc- 
ceeded, in 1877, by the present incumbent, W. E. Robinson. 



248 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

Recorder. — James P. Jones was the first Recorder of Coles County. He 
was succeeded in the oiEce, in 1834, by John F. Smyth, and he by S. M. Dun- 
bar in December of the same year. Nathan Ellington received the office in 
1835 ; John W. Trower in 1843 ; Ellington again in 1846, and Enos Stuts- 
man in 1847, who held the ofEce until the adoption of the new Constitution of 
1848, when the office of Recorder was consolidated with that of Circuit Clerk. 

Treasurer. — A. G. Mitchell was the first County Treasurer, and was suc- 
ceeded by Richard Sto Idert in 1843, who held the office until 1840, when he 
was succeeded by Thomas Lytle, and he by Jacob I. Brown in 1851 ; Brown 
by D. C. Ambler in 1855 ; he by A. Y. Ballard in 1857 ; he by Abram 
Highland in 1859; he by D. H. Tremble in 18(33; he by II. M. Ashmore in 
1869 ; he by George Moore in 1871 ; he by W. B. Galbreath in 1873, and he 
by J- F. Goar in 1877, the present Treasurer of the county. 

Surveyor. — The first Surveyor of the county was Thomas Sconce, who was 
succeeded by Joseph Fowler in 1835 ; he by Sconce again in 1839. Lewis R. 
Hutchason was elected in 1843, and was succeeded by Thomas Lytle in 1847 ; 
he by John Meadows in 1852 ; he by William A. Brun in 1855 ; he by Lewis 
B. Richardson in 1859 ; he by Thomas Lytle again in 1861 ; he by James S. 
Yeargin in 1864 ; he by George A. Brown in 1867 ; he by John H. Clark in 
1869, and he by the present incumbent, John L. Aubert, in 1875. 

School Commissioner. — Charles Morton was the first School Commissioner 
of the county, and held the office until 1841, when he was succeeded by James 
Alexander, and, in 1845, he was succeeded by James B. Harris; he by H. 
Mann in 1849 ; he by Gideon Edwards in 1851 ; he by James A. Mitchell, 
and he by W. H. K.Pile in 1861 ; he by Elzy Blake in 1865 ; he by Rev. s! 
J. Bovell in 1869 ; he by Rev. Allen Hill in 1873, and he by Prof. T. J. Lee 
in 1877, who is now in office. 

State's Attorney. — In 1860, J. R. Cunningham was chosen State's At- 
torney for the judicial circuit of which Coles County was a part. This 
position he held for four years. The new Constitution, adopted in 1870, gave 
to each county an attorney. The first appointment under this new order of 
things, was Col. A. P. Dunbar, who was succeeded by J. W. Craig. Robert 
M. Gray is the present State's Attorney. 

Legislators. — The first Representative of Coles County in the General 
Assembly of the State was Dr. John Carrico, in the session of 1832. In 1834, 
James T. Cunningham was a member of the Legislature from this county. He 
also served in the sessions of 1837 and 1840 ; was a candidate for the Consti- 
tutional Convention in 1848, and was the choice of his party for Congress in 
the campaign of 1860. He came from Kentucky to Coles County in 1830, 
and was a man of good judgment, liberal views, and skilled in the details of 
finance. In the sessions of the Legislature of 1836-37, and in 1844, and in 
1855, Col. A. P. Dunbar represented the county, and served with Lincoln and 
Douglas. He gave to Douglas the name of Little Giant ; introduced the bill 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 249 

for moving the capital from Vandalia to Springfield ; also a bill allowing fees 
to jurors, which position had before been honorary; also a resolution asking 
Congress to reduce the postage on mail matter,* and Illinois thus became the 
first State to move in that direction. In the General Assemblies of 1838 and 
1842, Hon. 0. B. Ficklin represented the county. He is a native of Kentucky, 
but in an early day settled in Wabash County, and afterward in Coles. He 
was appointed, by the Legislature, Prosecuting Attorney for this Circuit, and, 
in his official capacity, once prosecuted a colored woman here for murder. She 
was poor, and the other attorneys in attendance volunteered to defend her. 
Mr. Ficklin closed the case in a vigorous speech, and after he sat down, the 
woman observed, that she " believed in her soul dat Massa Ficklin had done 
her as much harm as good in his speech." Mr. Ficklin has served several 
terms in Congress, and for a long term of years as a delegate to the Democratic 
National Conventions, and is at present, together with Hon. H. A. Neal, a 
man of fijie ability, member of the State Legislatui'e. 

In 1838, Dr. B. Monroe was elected State Senator. He was from Ken- 
tucky, and came to this county in 1833, and possessed fine business qualifica- 
tions. In the sessions of the Legislatures of IBSGf and 1846, U. F. Snider 
represented Coles County. He was born in Elizabethtown, Ky., and came to 
Charleston in 1838, where he lived until 1860, when he went to Chicago. 
Under the administration of Gov. Duncan, he was Attorney General of the 
State. As a lawyer, he was eminent in his profession, and as a public speaker 
had few if any peers in the Western country. Joseph Fowler in 1842, W. D. 
Watson in 1852, W. W. Craddock in 1858," Dr. John Monroe in 1862, Col. J. 
M. True in 1866, and Hon. G. W. Parker in 1868, have all, honorably to 
themselves, represented Coles County in the Legislature of the State. In 1870, 
Hon. James A. Cunningham and Hon. A. Jeffries were the representatives; 
were wise law-makers and watchful guardians of the rights of the people. In 
1874, Hon. C. B. Steele and Hon. James A. Connolly represented the county, 
and were able legislators. In the Congress of the United States of 1864 
and 1866, Hon. H. P. Bromwell, now of Denver, Colo., but for many years 
a resident of Coles County, represented this Congressional District. He was 
a man of brilliant talents and a lawyer of fine ability. Dr. Thomas P. Trower 
and Thomas A. Marshall were delegates from this county to the Constitutional 
Convention of 1848. Col. Marshall was also State Senator in 1858, arid 
during his term, by right of seniority, was Lieutenant Governor. 

Thus, we have noted the formation of the county, together with the differ- 
ent branches of county offices and government, and the names of the incum- 
bents of these offices down to the present time, with a brief glance at the county's 
law-makers and counselors. Before passing from this part of our work, it may 
be of some interest to say a few words of township organization. When the 

* Postage on letters was twenty-five cents, payable at the office of delivery, 
fin 1836, he was living in Greenup (now Cumberland County J. 



250 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

county was formed, it was divided or laid off into a number of civil townships 
or election precincts. The names and boundaries of these precincts we are un- 
able to give, as the first record of the County Commissioner's Court cannot be 
found. When the county adopted township organization in 1859, the fall of 
which year the vote was taken, there were three Commissioners, viz., John 
Hutton, John Monroe and James T. Cunningham, appointed to lay off the 
county into townships. They accordingly divided it into twelve civil town- 
ships, as follows : Hutton, Ashmore, East Oakland, Morgan, Seven Hickory, 
Milton (now Humbolt), North Okaw, Mattoon, Paradise, Pleasant Grove, 
Charleston and La Fayette, their boundaries and names still remaining the same 
to the present time, as may be seen by reference to the map in the front part of 
this work; except Milton, the. name of which has been changed to Humbolt. 
ThefirstBoardof Supervisors were John Hutton, Hutton Township; John Hoots, 
North Okaw ; Joseph Edman, Pleasant Grove ; Milton W. Barnes, Ashmore ; 
William R. Jones, La Fayette ; Richard Stoddert, Charleston ; James Monroe, 
Mattoon ; A. R. Sutherland, Milton ; Samuel Rosebrough, Seven Hickory ;. 
Nathan Thomas, Morgan ; George W. McConkey, East Oakland, and Adam 
W. Hart, Paradise. The Board held its first meeting May 7, 18G0, and or- 
ganized by making George W. McConkey temporary Chairman, but, afterward, 
James Monroe was elected permanent President of the Board. The county is 
still under township organization. 

MILLS, STORES, POST OFFICES, ETC. 

In opening up a new country, one of the first enterprises inaugurated for 
the public good is a mill, for with all the inventions of the age there has been 
no discovery as yet made to enable the human fomily to get along without eat- 
ing. We have it upon good authority that in the early times people were 
sometimes without bread for three weeks in succession, but there is no evidence 
that they were destitute of all other kinds of provisions at the same time. Mill 
facilities, fifty years ago, were very limited in this section of the country. The 
first mill of any note in the county was what is now known as the Blakcman 
Mill, on the Embarrass River, and was built in 1829 by the Parkers, just fifty 
years ago.* To this mill, we are informed, men came forty and fifty miles on 
horseback, with a bushel and a half of corn, and it frequently was frost-bitten. 
"This mill," said an old gentleman, " run all the year, except wlien cows came 
along and drank the river dry." It may have been this thoughtless act on the 
part of the cattle that suggested the introduction into the country of horse- 
mills. They were a dry-weather mill, and during the dry season were kept 
pretty bu.sy. Charles Morton built one of these dry-weather mills in the 
neighborhood of Charleston, in an early day, which was of benefit to a large 
scope of country. One of the early mills was built on Kickapoo Creek, by a 
man named Robbins, but it was a frail structure, and could only grind one grist 

*n WI18 Bubsoqiicntl^' niovetl tu tht- upimsito sltli' of tho river and became the Blakcman MiU. 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 251 

of a bushel and a half of corn from Monday morning to Saturday night. A 
man named Stevens built a mill in what is now Oakland Township, very early, 
and soon after. Redden built one in the same neighborhood. Redden's mill is said 
to have been a curiosity in its way, in this, that it had a buckwheat bolt attached. 
Chadd built one a few years later, on a new plan, but without a buckwheat bolt. 
If the stories told of it be true, it was a very remarkable mill, and far superior 
to the mills of the present day. The proprietor boasted that on a certain occa- 
sion he ground a bushel of wheat on his mill and liolted it on Redden's bolt, and 
the one bushel turned out one hundred pounds of superfine flour, and two and a 
half bushels of bran. (It may have been that the mill was no better than those 
of the present day, but a bettor quality of wheat was grown then.) But these 
mills were a "big thing" in their day, as well as a useful institution of the 
country. 

The first store opened in the county was by Charles Morton. When he 
came to the county in 1830, he brought a stock of goods with him, and opened 
them out in a small pole cabin, near the present city of Charleston, and, upon 
the laying-out of the town, moved within its corporate limits. He established 
his store upon one of the eligible corner lots, and thus the mercantile business 
was begun, not only in the county, but in its metropolis. Other stores were 
opened a few years later at Kickapoo, Hitesville and other points in the 
county. Morton was not long allowed a monopoly of the mercantile trade of 
Charlestor., but on the principle that "competition is the life of trade," soon 
had plenty of company. Mr. Morton was also the first Postmaster in the 
county. This fact is disputed by some, however, who claim that George Han- 
son established a post office at Wabash Point some time before there was one at 
Charleston. Samuel Frost carried the first mail through the county. The route 
was from Paris to Yandalia, then the capital of the State. 

Tan-yards were among the enterprises of the pioneer days. People then 
were not ashamed to wear, but were glad to get, shoes of home manufacture. 
Many of the pioneers were sufficiently versed in the lore of St. Crispin 
to make shoes, and their genius was called into question at the approach of 
winter. To satisfy the demand for " shoe-leather," tanneries were established 
where the peoples' " cowhides " and deerskins were made into leather. One 
of these early tanneries was established by William Wagner, in the Kickapoo 
settlement. Another was established at Charleston by David Eastin, which 
afterward became the property of the Stodderts, and was operated by them for 
years, in ftict, until tan-yards went out of fashion. Carding machines were also 
included among the early industries of the county. As we have stated in an- 
other page, the pioneer ladies manufactured the family clothing. Nearly every 
family raised a few sheep. The wool produced by these useful animals was 
carded into rolls by these machines, when they were taken in hand by tlie 
women, spun into yarn on the " big wheel," and then woven into cloth on the 
old " rattling loom." One of the first carding-machines in the county was 



0^9 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 



established or built by John Kennedy in Charleston soon after it was laid out 
as a town. Daniel Evinger built a carding machine on Parker's Prairie, about 
1828, which is supposed to have been the very first institution of the kind in 
the county. But these machines, tan-yards and horse-mills have long ago be- 
come obsolete, the latter have been superseded by fine steam-mills, the tan-yards 
by " brought-on " boots and shoes and the jeans and "linsey-woolsey" by 
store goods. 

Among the first blacksmiths in the county were two men of the name of 
Owens and Harman, who had the first shop in Charleston. John Carter, of 
Ashmore, was another of the early blacksmiths, and also P. K. Honn, who for 
many years kept a shop at Hitesville. (For a beautiful tribute to this class of 
mechanics, the reader is referred to Longfellow's poem entitled "The Village Black- 
smith.") Other mechanics and trades-people came in, the settlements flourished 
and grew prosperous upon the products of their own enterprise. In this 
small and humble way, the foundation was laid for the power and greatness 
enjoyed at the present day. 

BIRTHS, DEATHS AXD MARRIAGES. 

As to who was the first white child born in the present territory of Coles 
County, it is not possible to state definitely. As is usually the case, we hear of 
a great many first ones — so many, indeed, that it is hard to decide to whom tke 
honor belongs. The child of Daniel Drake, whose wife has been mentioned as, at 
the age of 54 years, giving birth to a child about 1826-27, was probably the first 
birth in the county. Drake was one of the pioneers of the settlement at Wa- 
bash Point. Another of the first births was a son of James Nees, born in 
March, 1827, in the settlement now known by the poetical name of Dog Town. 
Probably there are other first ones, but we have no time to look them up. Suf- 
fice it, many have been born to take up the trials and troubles of earth. 

*' Angels weep when a babe is born, 
And sing wlien an old man dies." 

In 1824, the year that the first settlement was made in Coles County, a 
Mrs. Whitten died in the settlement on Parker's Prairie, and was the first death 
of a white person in the county. James Nash, who settled at Wabash Point 
in 1827, and soon after fatally injured himself carrying a heavy log of wood, as 
noticed on another page, was the first death in that neighborhood. Daniel Drake 
and Charles Sawyer cut down trees, split out puncheons and of them made the 
coffin in which Nash was buried. 

Among the early nuirriagcs may be noted that of James Jeems and a Miss 
Bates, which occurred in 1827, and is said to have been the first wedding sol- 
emnized in the present territory of the county. Jeems went to Darwin, on the 
Wabash River, then the county seat of Clark County, for the marriage license, 
as did also Levi Doty, who married soon after to a Miss Phipps. Apropos of 
weddings, the following anecdote is not inappropriate to the subject. We wish 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTV. 253 

to state, however, by way of preface to the story, that should the partic!|::iir.s 
in it take offense at having their old jokes resurrected and recorded uiim ihe 
pages of history, we warn them to vent their rage upon Capt. Adams, lie 
furnished us the facts, and we take shelter behind his elephantine proportions. 
In early times, there lived in Charleston a Justice of the Peace named H. C. 
Dunbar, and a well-known business man — Richard Stoddert. These two 
worthy individuals were in the habit of playing practical jokes on each other, 
and rather serious ones sometimes, as the sequel will show. One bleak, dreary 
day, in the month of March — as disagreeable as March days can sometimes be 
— Mr. Stoddert told 'Squire Dunbar that a friend of his in the north part of 
the county, some eighteen or twenty miles from town, was to be married on 
that day, and had requested him (Stoddert) to send Dunbar up to perform the 
ceremony. Dunbar, nothing doubting, mounted his horse and rode up to the 
designated place to tie the knot, but upon arriving, discovered that it was one 
of Stoddert's jokes. He said nothing, but, indulged internally, perhaps, in a 
few pages of profane history, returned home through the March blasts, taking 
it all good-naturedly, and bided his time to pay oft' Stoddert in his own coin. 
An opportunity was soon presented. It was a custom at that day, at parties 
and gatherings of young people, by way of giving zest to the evening's enter- 
tainment, to get up a sham wedding of some couple who had been " keeping 
company," or were particularly sweet on each other, and have a sham ceremony 
performed with all due solemnity by some sham ofiicial or sham clergyman. 
Soon after Dunbar's " fruitless trip " above mentioned, one of these social par- 
ties came off in Charleston, and, with the design of retaliating upon Stoddert, 
Dunbar went to the County Clerk's office and procui'ed a marriage license for 
Stoddert and a certain young lady, with whom he had been keeping company 
for some time. Armed with this document, he repaired to the party, and so 
engineered matters as to got up the usual sham wedding between Stoddert and 
his sweetheart. As a Justice of the Peace, he was, of course, called on to per- 
form the (supposed) sham ceremony. Confronting the pair with all the solem- 
nity he would have used had it been a pre-arranged wedding " for keeps," 
he asked the usual questions required by law, and was answered satisfactorily, 
winding up by informing them that, as they were aware, he was an officer, 
authorized by law to pei-form the marriage ceremony, and asked if it was their 
" desire to be united in holy wedlock." They answered in the affirmative, and, 
holding the license in his hand (which they supposed was but a piece of blank 
paper, used for the sake of appearance), he went through the marriage ceremony 
in full, received the responses, and solemnly pronounced them " man and wife," 
turned away and made out the certificate with the usual witnesses, went over to 
the Clerk's office, made a return of the license and had the certificate recorded 
that night, without a hint to the pair of the genuineness of the proceedings. 
The next day, however, the matter leaked out, and so many of Stoddert's 
friends joked him about being married in the novel manner described, that he 



254 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

went to the Clerk's office to investigate, and found it true — the papers in the 
case i-eturned and recorded in due form. He then Avent to the girl and told 
her what had occurred, when quite a little excitement arose. She cried and 
Stoddert — swore (perhaps), not that they objected to each other, but to the way 
they had been inveigled into it. x\t last, Stoddert told her that they had better 
make the best of a " horrid joke " and call it genuine. She responded that 
perhaps she would never be able to do any better in the selection of a husband, 
and so the sham wedding was turned into a genuine affair. Before leavintr the 
subject we will add that, if all reports be true, Charleston never knew a hap- 
pier couple than the one united in this romantic manner. Long years of wedded 
life were passed in the greatest harmony, and when, a few years ago, the good 
woman passed from earth, she was most sincerely mourned by the partner of 
her sorrows and joys. He is still living, an honored citizen of Charleston. 
'Squire Dunbar is living in Texas, or was at the last known of him, enjoying 
the reflection, doubtless, that he paid Stoddert for his joke, with interest. 

The first practicing physician in Coles County was Dr. John Apperson. 
His practice extended o"er a large scope of country, and his office was usually 
on horse-back. Often when he slept, his saddle was his pillow, the soft side of 
a puncheon or the green earth his bed, and the blue sky his covering. Dr. 
Carrico was another of the early practitioners in the healing art, and was fol- 
lowed soon after by Dr. Ferguson, who doctored the people of Coles County for 
more than forty years. Col. Dunbar was the first licensed lawyer of the county, 
and for some time had an open field for the exercise of his legal talent. A 
more minute history of the professions is given in the township histories. 

OLD settlers' association. 

In 1878, the idea was conceived of forming an association of the old settlers 
of Coles County still surviving, for the purpose of keeping up the old associa- 
tions of the pioneer days, and preserving the reminiscences of the wilderness, 
in which they long ago planted their homes. With this object in view, a meet- 
ing assembled in the city of Charleston, on the 19th of October last, and was 
called to order by Hon. 0. B. Ficklin. Col. A. P. Dunbar was chosen Chair- 
man of the meeting, and Capt. W. E. Adams was appointed Secretary. Col. 
Dunbar briefly stated the object of the meeting to be " the renewal of old 
acquaintances, and giving brief sketches of the early history and settlement of 
Coles County, and the organization of a society to be known as the Coles 
County Old Settlers' Society." I. J. Montfort, Isaac N. Craig and Thomas G. 
Chambers were appointed a committee to report a plan for the organization of 
such a society. The following is their rejwrt : " This association shall be known 
as the Coles County Old Settlers' Society. The object of thi§ Society shall be 
to keep in lively remembrance the hardships and privations incident to the 
early settlers of new countries, and especially of this county, and thereby 
promote the same economy among the rising generation as was practiced by 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 255 

them. The officers shall be a President, and a Vice President for each town- 
ship, a Secretary and five Directors. The duties of the officers provided for 
as above shall be the same as performed by such officers in all deliberative 
bodies and societies. It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to call 
annual meetings of this society on the last Thursday in August of each year, 
and make necessary arrangements for such meetings. The officers shall hold 
their positions for one year." A committee, consisting of 0. B. Ficklin, 
Richard Stoddert and Dr. S. Van Meter, was appointed, to define what an old 
settler is, and who shall be members of this society. Following is their definition : 
" Whosoever shall have lived in the State of Illinois thirty years is considered 
an old settler by this association, and shall be eligible to become a member of 
this Society." At this meeting,. Thomas G. Chambers was chosen President of 
the association for the ensuing year, and W. E. Adams, Secretary. The fol- 
lowing gentlemen were chosen Vice Presidents : Albert Compton, Charleston ; 
Thomas E. Woods, Mattoon ; Adam W. Hart, Paradise ; J. K. Ellis, Okaw ; 
James Shoemaker, Humbolt ; James McCrory, La Fayette; I. J. Montfort, 
Pleasant Grove ; Ely R. Adams, Hutton ; Peter K. Honn, Ashmore ; J. J. 
Pemberton, Oakland ; Yancey E. Winkler, Morgan ; and Isaac Perisho, 
Hickory. J. W. Frazier, Abram Highland, Dr. S. Van Meter, Col. A. P. 
Dunbar and George Birch were chosen Executive Committee. 

The Charleston Plaindealer closes its account of the pi'oceedings of this 
meeting of the old settlers as follows: "Brief speeches were made by Col. J. 
J. Adams,* who has lived in the county for forty-eight years, and has heard 
the scream of the panther and the war-whoop of the Indian, and by Isaac 
Perisho, who had been a resident of Illinois since 1825 ; and by William Rigsby, 
who had seen the Court House built and sowed the blue-grass seed in the Court 
House yard ; and by Uncle John Bates, who came here in 1824, and has seen 
the wilderness blossom as the rose ; and by Dr. Van Meter, who has been in 
the country for fifty years, and carried his corn to mill on his back and hired 
the miller to take his oxen and grind his grist for him ; and by Aunt Polly 
Kellogg, who came here in 1824, saw the first mill built, and heard the first 
sermon preached, and attended the first funeral in the county. Job W. Brown, 
P. K. Honn, George Birch, Y. E. Winkler, Jeptha Parker, Michael Hall, 
Isaac Craig, and many other old settlers were in attendance. The Vice Presi- 
dents are requested to enroll all old settlers in their respective townships. The 
last Thursday in August, 1879, was fixed as the time for the next annual 
meeting." We would add that it is the intention to keep up the meetings, and 
to maintain the association permanently. 

EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES. 

Some modern sage, imbued mth a poetical view in his composition, has very 
wisely declared: ,„.,.„ , . , 

'' " Tis education forms the common mind, 

Just as the twig is hent the tree's inclined." 

* .\ soldier of the Mcxiciii war. and recently deceased. 



256 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

And when our fareftithers declared in their ordinance of 1787, that knowledge, 
in connection with religion and morality, was "necessary to the good govern- 
ment and happiness of mankind," and enjoined that "schools, and the means 
of education, should forever be encouraged," they suggested in that ordinance the 
verv bulwark of American liberty and freedom. The first free- school system 
of the State was adopted thirty years before the present one. Schools flourished 
in almost every neighborhood, says Gov. Ford in his history of Illinois, and 
" the law worked reasonably well." Gov. Cole.s, in his Message to the Legis- 
lature of 1824-25, directed attention to the liberal donation of Congress in 
lands for educational purposes, asking that they be husbanded as a rich treasure 
for future generations, and, in the mean time, to make provision for the support 
of local schools. During this session, Hon. Joseph Duncan, subsequently 
Governor (then Senator), introduced a bill, afterward passed, to which the 
following is the preamble : " To enjoy our rights and liberties, we must 
understand them ; their security and protection ought to be the first object of 
a free people ; and it is a well-established fact that no nation has ever continued 
long in the enjoyment of civil and political freedom which was not both virtuous 
and enlightened. And believing that the advancement of literature always has 
been, and ever will be, the means of more fully developing the rights of men — 
tliat tlie mind of every citizen in a republic is the common property of society, 
and constitutes the basis of its strength and happiness — it is, therefore, con- 
sidered the peculiar duty of a free government, like ours, to encourage and 
extend the improvement and cultivation of the intellectual energies of the 
whole." Stuve, in his history of Illinois, speaking of this act, says: " It was 
provided that common schools should be established, free and open to every class 
of white citizens between the ages of five and twenty-one ; and persons over 
twenty-one might be admitted on such terms as the Trustees should jircscribe. 
Districts, of not less than fifteen families, were to be formed by the County 
Courts, upon petition of a majority of the voters thereof; ofBcers were to.be 
elected, sworn in, and their duties^jra-e prescribed in detail. The system was 
full and complete in all particulai-s. The legal voters were empowered at the 
annual meeting to levy a tax, in money or merchantable produce at its cash 
value, not exceeding one-half of one per cent, subject to a maximum limitation 
of )'!10 to any one ])erson. But, aside from this ta.x, the best and most effective 
feature of the law, in principle, the great stimulant of our present system, was 
an annual appropriation by the State of $2 out of every $100 received into 
the Treasury, and the distribution of five-sixths of the interest arising from the 
school funds, apportioned among the several counties, according to the number 
of white children under the age of twenty-one years, which sums were then re- 
distributed by the counties among their respective districts, none participating 
therein where not at least three months' school had been taught during the 
twelve months preceding. In this law were foreshadowed some of the most 
valuable features of our present free-school system. But it is asserted that the 




_^-X^r^^^^f^€^ J ^//^/^ j^'-^^^^^^^ 







^deceased) 
MATTOON 



I 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 259 

law of 1825 was in advance of the times ; that tlie people preferred to pay 
their tuition fees, or do without education for the children, rather than submit 
to the bare idea of taxation, however it might fall in the main upon the wealthier 
property-holders, for the benefit of all ; and the law was so amended, in 1827, 
as to virtually nullify it, by providing that no person should be taxed for the 
maintenance of any school, unless the consent was first obtained in writing, and 
the continuance of the State appropriation of $2 out of every $100 received 
into the Treasury, being its very life, was denied." In the foregoing extract 
is portrayed something of the first school laws of Illinois, and their virtual abolish- 
ment developed the rude system of schools of the pioneer days in Coles County. 
The school fund was not sufficient to support the schools, and the people obviated 
the difficulty by some one, specially interested, taking a paper, going to the 
parents and having them sign as many scholars, at .^1.50 apiece (that was the 
standard price), as they could send to school. If a sufficient number were sub- 
scribed they had a school, if not, the children ran wild and unrestrained as the 
prairie winds, at least, so far as pertained to schools. Nor were schoolhouses 
built then by general taxation, as they are now, but by gratuitous contribution. 
This contribution usually consisted in a man taking his ax and cutting logs, or 
taking his team and hauling them from the timber to the building-site, or 
carrying the hod while the chimney was in process of ei'ection, or of " riving " 
boards to cover it, etc., etc. These schoolhouses were built of logs, often with- 
out hewing, raised one story high, and, as an old settler informed us, " white- 
washed inside and outside with original Illinois mud, floored with rude 
puncheons, and cracks between them through which the small children some- 
times fell." With a fire-place extending across one end of the room, benches 
made of trees split open, and wooden pins put in for legs, the half of two logs 
cut out, and white domestic tacked over it (the pioneer glass window), completes 
the picture of the original schoolhouse. In these rude temples of learning the 
pioneer's child acquired his education. There were no grades then, and but 
few classes, for in a school of twenty or thirty pupils, there would be found as 
many arithmetics, geographies and readers as there were extant in the Enidish 
language. But the adoption of the free-school system, entered upon in 1855, 
marks the turning-point in the history of common-school education of the 
State, and abolished forever the rude and imperfect system hitherto in force. 
The donation by Congress of the Sixteenth Section of every Congressional 
Township, or, if sold, lands equivalent thereto, as contiguous as miidit be, for 
the use of the inhabitants of such township for school purposes, amounted to 
over 998,000 acres, and which, had it been properly managed and husbanded, 
would have given the people such an ample school fund as would have saved 
them from any local taxation. At the session of the Legislature of 1854, that 
august body took the first step in the right direction, by the enactment of a 
law separating the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction from that of 
Secretary of State, and creating it a distinct department of the State govern- 



260 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

ment, the incumbent' to receive a salary of $1,500, and Gov. Matteson appointed 
the Hon. N. W. Edwards State Superintendent of Common Schools. This 
most important office, at that juncture, was bestowed upon Mr. Edwards on 
account of his long experience in public life, and from the conviction that he 
would carry into eifect the hopes of the people and the designs of the Legis- 
lature in creating it. In January following, he submitted to the General 
Assembly a full report upon the condition of the public schools throughout the 
State, ably urged the education of the children of the State at the public 
expense, and presented a well-drawn bill for a complete system of free schools, 
which, with some alterations, became a law. The act bore date February 15, 
1855, and embraced all the essential principles now in force."* But, however 
interesting our school history may be to the friends of education, we cannot 
follow it through all of its mutations, but have already trespassed upon time 
and space, and will only add, that there is not a State west of the Alleghanies 
whose educational interest and common-school system is so well developed, so 
well protected and so well adapted to the wants of the people and the spirit of 
the age, as the State of Illinois. With a few statistical facts from the last 
report of Prof. T. J. Lee, County Superintendent of Schools, to the Superin- 
tendent of Public Instruction, which are of special interest to the people of the 
county, we will pass on to other branches of our work : 

Number of schools taught in the county 121 

" pupils enrolled 7,937 

Male teachers employed (1st grade) 66 

" " " (2d grade) 41 

Female " " (1st grade) 59 

(•2d grade) 67 

Total number of teachers employed 233 

Average merit of their certificates 8.3 

Months taught by males 526 

" •' " females 582 

Average number of months taught previous 38 

Average age of these teachers (years) 27 

Average monthly wiiges (males) $48.88 

" (females) SSO.liO 

Amount paid teachers $44,007 09 

Number of persons between 6 and 21 years 9,099 

" between 12 and 21 unable to write 20 

Referring to the qualifications of teachers. Prof. Lee says: "Shortly after 
coming into office, I deemed it best to reduce, gradually, the number of certifi- 
cates by raising the grade of qualifications, and adopted the following rules con- 
cerning certificates : " 1. Scale : 5, very poor ; G, poor ; 7, tolerable ; 8, good ; 9, 
very good ; 10, perfect. 2. For First Grade — Average of 8, with no branch 
below 7. 3. For Second grade — Average of 7, with no branch below 5. After 
twelve months teaching, same mark as for First Grade. 4. Only bona-fide ap- 
plicants to teach in this county will be examined. 5. Reference of good moral 

♦Sjtuve'B History of Ulinois. 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 261 

character required of applicants unknown to Superintendent. 6. In addition 
to above, aptitude for the business of teaching will be re(iuired. 7. No re-ex- 
amination under three months after rejection. 8. iVo certificate now held will 
be renewed or another issued instead, except on personal application for re- 
examination. 9. All examinations must be begun and completed on the same 
day ; therefore applicants should come to the office early in the day. 10. No 
certificates will be issued except at published time and place." Prof. Lee closes 
his report as follows : " Our common school system is yet an experiment. Give 
it time to grow, and it may yet unfold into that perennial blessing, and those benef- 
icent propositions dreamed by its founders. Its growth cannot be hastened — 
but retarded rather — by certain Utopian ideas that now, unhappily for it, seem 
to be gaining ground. Let us call a ' halt ' and wait. Let all who are ' called ' 
to help administer the system strive in every good way to bring it up equal to 
the provisions already made for it, before attempting new excesses." 

EARLY RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 

The sound of the Gospel in Coles County is coeval with the first settle- 
ment made in its limits. Jolin Parker, the old patriarch of the Parker family 
■was a Baptist preacher of the " hard-shell " or " ironside" persuasion, and used to 
proclaim the word of God to the pioneers on the Sabbath — when it was not a 
good day to hunt bees. Daniel Parker was also a preacher of the same denom- 
ination, and, as the Parkers were the first settlers in the county, so were they 
the first preachers. " High " Johnny Parker, as the old man was familiarly 
called, preached the first sermon in Coles County in 1824, the year the first 
settlement was made. He was a plain, old-fashioned man, hewn out of rouo-h 
timber, and "preached salvation by election, without money and without 
price." This sermon (the first in the county) was preached in a small log cabin 
in the Parker settlement, and it is said that every inhabitant of the county 
was there, and had abundant room, for eleven souls constituted the entire 
adult population. Father Parker closed this original religious service of the 
county in these words : " Brethren, we have wandered far into the wilder- 
ness, but even here death will find us." The Rev. Mr. Newport was another 
of the '' hard-shell " divines who figured prominently in the early relitrious 
history of the county. The early settlers were a conscientiously religious 
people. Even prior to the era of schoolhouses and churches, they had 
meetings under the shade-trees on the river-banks, and in private houses 
dedicated by common usage to religious services. Says Capt. Adams in 
his Centennial Address : " We have seen one of these private houses, not 
exceeding twenty feet square, containing thi-ee or four beds and all the house- 
hold and kitchen furniture of a large family, hold a big congregation of zealous 
worshipers. In the early days, the old, young and even small cliildren went to 
church. During the services it sometimes occurred that a half-dozen of these 
little ones, all with one accord, would raise their plaintive cries : nevertheless 



262 HISTORY OF COLES COUNT V. 

the services proceeded without any apparent disturbance. The occasional man- 
ifestations of some of these people were strikingly singular. Some would shout and 
some would pray and others scream at the rop of the voice. Some would clap 
their hands until blistered, and others faint away, but all seemed happy, recog- 
nizing it as the Lord's doings." 

An early minister of the Presbyterian Church was Rev. Isaac Bennett. 
" He dropped down among us," says one, " as softly as the morning light, and 
could not brook any religious excitement, or even the music of a child during 
his discourse." Rev. Mr. Martin was another of the early preachers of 
Coles County. But we have not space to particularize each of these 
pioneer soldiers of the cross. Without the hope of earthly' reward, they 
preached the glad tidings to perishing sinners, and sought to gather them 
into the fold of Christ. Reverently asking the blessing of God upon all 
they did, their lives were simple ; their wants few and easily satisfied ; their 
teachings plain and unvarnished, touched with no eloquence save that of their 
daily living, which was seen and known of all men. 

In what year the first church-building was erected in the county is not 
known, but subsequently to 1830, as at that date, we are informed, there was 
not an edifice which had been elected purposely for a temple of worship. B.fore 
the building of schoolhouses, the cabin of the settler was used in winter, 
and in summer, "the groves, God's first tjemples," served their humble wishes. 
But now, some sixty-five church-buildings may be. enumerated in the county. 
Not only in the towns and cities, but in every village and hamlet, their lofty 
spires "pierce the clouds." Even in many neighborhoods in the country are 
neat and commodious church-houses. 

In connection with the church history, it may not be out of place to say a 
few words of the benevolent institutions existing in the county- Freemasonry 
and Odd Fellowship follow close in the wake of the Christian cliurcli, and, in 
their way, exert almost as great an influence for good as tlie church itself. 
They teac'h a belief in God, the immortality of the soul and the resurrec- 
tion of the body. Gathered around their altars, their votaries can sub- 
scribe to their simple articles of faith, and join in one united prayer and 
praise to the great Architect of the universe. These institutions have organ- 
ized bodies in Charleston, Mattoon, Etna, Ashmore, Muddy Point, Oakland, 
Paradise, Hutton and Milton. In the city of Charleston are Charleston Lodge, 
No. 35, A., F. & A. M.; Keystone Chapter, No. 54, Royal Arch Masons ; 
Charleston Lodge, No. 609, I. 0. 0. F.; Kickapoo Lodge, No. 00, I. 0. 0. F.; 
and Coles Encampment, No. 9-1, I. 0. 0. F. ; in Mattoon — Mattoon Lodge, 
No. 260, A., F. & A. M.; Circle Lodge, No. 707, A., F. & A. M.; Mattoon 
Chapter, No. 85, Royal Arch Masons ; Godfrey de Bouillon Commandory, No. 
44, Knights Templar; Harmony Lodge, No. 551, I. 0. 0. F.; Coles County 

Lodge, No. 260, I. 0. 0. F. ; Mattoon Encampment, No. , I. 0. 0. F.; 

also, Mattoon German Lodge, No. 414, I. 0. 0. F., and Eureka Lodge, No. 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 263 

13, Colored Masons; in the village of Etna, Wabash Lodge, No. 179, 
A., F. & A. M., and Etna Lodge, No. 519, I. 0. O. F.; in Oakland— Oak- 
land Lodge, No. 219, A., F k A. M., and Oakland Lodge, No. 545, I. 0. 0. F.; 
in Milton— Milton Lodge, No. 275, A., F. & A. M., and Humboldt Lodge, No. 
636, r. 0. 0. F.; in Ashmore— Ashmore Lodge, No. 390, A., F. & A. M.; 
in Muddy Point — Etna Lodge, No. 396, A., F. & A. M.; in Milton Station 
— Elwood Lodge, No. 589, A., F. & A. M.; in Paradise — Miles Hart Lodge, 
No. 595, A., F. & A. M., and in Hutton — Button Lodge, No. 698, 
A., F. & A. M. 

AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 

An association entitled the Coles County Agricultural Society was formed 
at Charleston on the 24tb day of May, 1841, and held three successive fairs, 
the first, October 1, 1841, the second, October 1, 1842, and the thii-d, Sep- 
tember 27, 1843. The permanent officers of the Society for 1841 were as 
follows : James Hite, President ; B. F. Jones, H. J. Ashmore and M. Ruff- 
ner, Vice Presidents ; T. A. Marshall, Treasurer, and J. F. Whitney, Secre- 
tary. The officers for 1842 were : Thomas Monson, President ; Michael 
Ruffner, Isaac Gruwell, Vice Presidents ; L. R. Hutchason, Treasurer ; D. J. 
Van Deren, Secretary; and for 1843, James T. Cunningham, President; 
George H. Nabb and Fountain Turner, Vice Presidents : L. R. Hutchason, 
Treasurer; D. J. Van Deren, Secretary; Laban Burr, John A. Olmstead, 
John Hite, Joel Connelly, John Apperson, B. F. Jones, Thomas Monson, 
Thomas Farris, R. A. Miller and William Frost, a Board of Directors.* 

The following extract is from the records : " From 1843 to 1855, the 
Society appears to have been entranced in a sort of Rip Van Winkle sleep, a 
"masterly inactivity" of eleven years' duration, until the passage of the two 
acts of the Legislature of Illinois, February 14, 1855, and February 15, 1855, 
the first to encourage the formation of county agricultural societies, and the 
last, a general act of incorporation of agricultural and horticultural societies 
and associations for improving the breeds of domestic animals, whereupon the 
Society appears to have awakened from its lengthy slumber, and recommenced 
its labors with more of vigor, comeliness of 'proportion and hope to its friends 
than prior to that wise legislative aid by the State, and accordingly, in the 
spring of 1855, a re-organization was efiected, and a constitution and by-laws 
adopted, as was then supposed, in conformity with the acts above referred to. 
The records under the new organization are said to be lost, so that the present 
Secretary is unable to give a history of its proceedings for 1855. Certain it is, 
however, the Society held a fair in the fall of that year, but what was contained 
in its list of premiums, wlio were judges, who competitors, to whom and for 
what premiums were awarded, is enshrouded in darkness. Nor is the present 
Secretary able to give a full list of the officers elected for that year, but as far 
as informed, the followino; is believed to be correct : James T. Cunningham, 

*Theae fairs were held on the commoos, we are told, the Society having no grounds of its own. 



264 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

President : D. J. Van Deren, Secretary ; B. F. Jones, J. K. Decker, M. F. 
Hackett, a portion of the Board of Directors ; Thomas G. Chambers, Treas- 
urer. The present Secretary is informed that the Society, having complied 
with the act of February 14, 1855, received from the Treasurer of State the 
sum of $50, as authorized by that act. Before the election of the present 
Secretary, but at what time he is not informed, the Society had purchased seven 
and three-fifths acres of land for the use of the same for its fair grounds, and 
had paid the sum of §100 in part payment for the same, the title to which 
remains yet unperfected." 

The act of February 14, 1855, referred to in the foregoing records, is as 
follows : 

An Act to encourage the fornvition nf County Agricultural Societies. 

SectiOjN 1. Be it enacted by Ihf pcple of the State of Illinoi.i, represented in the General 
Assembly, That whenever the President and Treasurer of any County .•igricultural Society shall 
certify that the sum of (at least) fifty dollars has been collected, and is in the hands of the 
Treasurer for the use of said society, the Treisurerof this State shall, when called upon for that 
purpose, pay to the said Treasurer or fiscal agent or officer of said society, the sum of fifty dol- 
lars; and the receipt of said Treasurer of such society therefor shall entitle the said Treasurer 
of this State to a credit for that amount in the settlements of his account as such State Treasurer. 

Sec. 2. The said sum of fifty dollars, thus appropriated, shaH be expended in the purpose 
of premiums, to be procured and distributed under the direction of said sucieties respectively in 
the manner prescrilied in the constitution, by-laws, or other regulations of said societies. 

Sec. 3. This act shall take ertect and be in force from and after its passage. 

The act of February 15, 1855, also alluded to in the extract from the 
minutes of the Society, provides for the incorporation of such societies, the 
mode of forming them, who shall be meuibers, etc., and gives the usual privi- 
leges of all corporate bodies. But its great length and lack of interest to the 
general reader, are sufficient excuses fjr omitting it here. Under these acts 
the Society revived, as already stated, took new lease of life, and commenced 
business in earnest. The minutes, however, of the first meeting, under the 
new dispensation, being lost, the proceedings of that fair are " as a sealed book." 
The proceedings of 1856 are given in full, together with the premium-lists, 
officers and all matters of interest occurring during the year. At a meeting of 
Society held in the Court House, June 2, 1856, thtj following officers were 
elected for the ensuing year: John Cofer, President; William Miller, Vice 
President ; II. J. Keelcr, Secretary ; Thomas G. Chambers, Treasurer ; B. F. 
Jones, J. T. Cunningham, J. K. Decker, M. F. Ha^ckett and James Hammett, 
Executive Committee. At a meetinji of the officers, held soon after their 
election, they met and made out a list of premiums, also a list of what should 
be exhibited. It is as follows : 

riKS'i' U.VV.— DOMESTIC ANIM.ALS. 

Horses. — Best stallion, 4 years old and over, Class 1, No. 1 §6 00 

Scconil best 3 00 

liest stallion, 3 years old. Class 1, No. '2 3 00 

Second best 2 CO 

Best stallion, 2 years old. Class 1, No. 3 3 00 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 265 

Horses. — Second best 2 00 

Best stallion, 1 year old, Class 1. No. 4 3 00 

Second best 2 00 

Best sucking horse-coli. Class 1, No. o o 00 

Second best 2 00 

Best brood-mare, 4 years old and over, Class 2, No. 1 6 00 

Second best 3 00 

Best filly, 3 years old, Class 2, No. 2 3 00 

Second best 2 00 

Best filly, 2 years old. Class 2, No. 3 3 00 

Second best 2 00 

Best filly, 1 year old, Class 2, No. 4 3 00 

Second best 2 00 

Best sucking mare-colt. Class 2, No. 5 3 00 

Second best 2 00 

Best pair horses or mares. Class 3, No. 1 5 00 

Best saddle horse or mare, Class 3, No. 2 3 00 

Best buggy horse or mare. Class 3, No. 3 '3 00 

Jacks. — Best jack, 3 years old and over. Class 4, No. 1 3 00 

Secoud best 2 00 

Best jack, 2 years old. Class 4, No. 2 3 00 

Second best.... 2 00 

Best jack 1 year old. Class 4, No. .3 3 00 

Second best 2 00 

Best sucking jack-colt. Class 4, No. 4 3 00 

Second best 2 00 

Jennies. — Best jenny, 3 years old and over. Class 5, No. 1 3 00 

Secondbest 2 00 

Best jenny, 2 years old. Class 5, No. 2 3 00 

Secondbest 2 00 

Best jenny, 1 year old. Class 5, No. 3 3 00 

Secondbest 2 00 

Best sucking jenny 3olf, Class 5, No. 4 3 00 

Second best 2 00 

Mules. — Best pair of mules. Class 6, No. 1 5 00 

Best sucking mule-colt. Class 6, No. 2 3 00 

Catile. — Best bull, 4 years old and over, Class 7, No. 1 5 00 

Second best 3 00 

Best bull, 3 years old. Class 7, No. 2 3 00 

Second best 2 00 

Best bull, 2 years old. Class 7, No. 3 3 00 

Secondbest 2 00 

Best bull, 1 year old. Class 7, No. 4 3 00 

Secondbest 2 00 

Best sucking buU-cilf, Class 7, No. -5 3 00 

Secondbest 2 00 

Best cow, 4 years old and over. Class 8, No. 1 8 00 

Second best 3 00 

Best heifer, 3 years old. Class 8, No. 2 3 00 

Second best ; 2 00 

Best heifer, 2 years old, Class 8, No. 3 3 00 

Secondbest 2 00 

Best heifer, 1 year old. Class 8, No. 4 3 00 



266 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

Ca<«f.— Second best 2 00 

Best sucking heifer-calf, Class 8, No. 5 .3 00 

Second best 2 00 

Best pair work cattle, Class 9, No. 1 . 5 00 

Sheep.— Best buck. Class 10, No. 1 $2 00 

Second best buck 1 00 

Best ewe, Class 10, No. 1 2 00 

Second best ewe 1 00 

Swine. — Best boar, 1 year old and over, Class 11, No. 1 3 00 

Best boar 6 months old and under 12 months old. Class 11, No. 2... S 00 

Best pig under 6 months old, Class 11, No. 3 2 00 

Best breed-sow, 1 year old and over. Class 11, No. 4 3 00 

Best breed-sow, 6 months and under 12 months old, Class 11, No. 5, 3 00 

Poultry. — Best pair of chickens, Class 12, No. 1 2 00 

Second best pair of chickens 1 00 

Farming Utensils. — Best sod plow. Class 13 3 00 

Best Subsoil plow, Class 13 3 00 

Best harrow. Class 13 2 00 

Best land-roller, Class 13 2 00 

Best mower and reaper combined. Class 13 .5 00 

Best thresher and separator, Class 13. 5 00 

Best seed-sower, Class 13 3 00 

Best hay-rake, Class 13 2 00 

Mechanical Dejmrtmetit. — Best harness for all purposes, Class 14, No. 1 3 00 

Second best harness for all purposes 2 00 

Best riding-saddle. Class 14, No. 2 3 00 

Second best riding-saddle 2 00 

Agricultural Products. — Best acre of wheat (dimension and quality indorsed 
by responsible, disinterested party), to be reported to the 
Secretary prior to November 1(1, with instruction as to soil, 
time and manner of sowing, tillage of ground, species of 

wheat, etc.. Class 15, No. 1 5 00 

Best acre of corn (with same conditions as to the wheat, etc.). 

Class 15, No. 2 6 00 

Fruit Department. — Greatest and best variety of apples, with siatement as to 
soil, slope of ground, etc., and any concurrent facts or con- 
ilitions by which it is believed its superiority had been 

induced. Class 16, No. 1 3 00 

Second best and greatest variety (same statement) 2 00 

Greatest and best variety of fruits, with statement as above relative 

to each, species, etc., Class 16, No. 2 3 00 

Second greatest and best variety (same statement) 2 00 

SECOND DAY. LADIES* DEPARTMENT. 

Dairy. — Best 5 !lis. butter, with process of manufacture. Class 17, No. 1 2 00 

Best 10 11)3. cheese, with process of manufacture, Cl.ast. 17, No. 2... 2 00 

Domestic Manufactures. — Best fancy quilt. Class 18, No. 1 2 00 

Best coverlet, Class 18, No. 2 2 00 

Best carpet, 10 yards and upward, Class 18, No. 3 2 00 

Best rag carpet, 10 yards and upward. Class 18, No. 4 2 00 

Best woolen cloth, 10 yanls and over. Class 18, No. 5 3 00 

Best jeans, 10 yards and over, Class 18, No. 6 2 00 

Best Hanncl, 10 yards and over (white, striped or plaid), Class 18 

No. 7 2 00 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 267 

Domestic Manufactures. — Best pair of blankets, Class 18, No. 8 2 00 

Best yarn socks. Class 18, No. 9 60 

Best cotton hose. Class 18, No. 10 50 

Fancy or Needle Work. — Best specimen fancy needle work. Class 10, No. 1... 3 00 
Best quality, embracing tlie greatest variety, of articles useful and 

ornamental, Class 19, No. 2 5 00 

At a meeting held August 2, 1856, the Board passed a resolution to adopt 
the list of premiums as above given, and appointed a committee to prepare the 
fair grounds for tlie forthcoming exhibition. At a subsequent meeting, an 
agreement was made with D. J. Van Deren and 11. J. Keeler to inclose the 
grounds. At a meeting September 13, it was ordered that a well be dug and 
curbed upon the Society's grounds ; badges were ordered for life members, and 
for the officers. Robert Leith was appointed Marshal ; E. W. True, J. R. 
Jeffries, James Shoemaker, William Jones and Richard Champion, Deputy 
Marshals, together with some other unimportant matters pertaining to the fair 
soon to take place, were arranged. 

The fair came off on the 24th and 25th of September, and, from the entries 
made in the different classes, seems to have been a very interesting and success- 
ful meeting. Particularly were the stock classes well represented, and ;i num- 
ber of entries made in each class. The Secretary published a report which is 
copied in the records, showing the list of Judges for the articles and stock 
adjudged, and the names of those to whom premiums were awarded, but its 
extreme length forbids its insertion in this work, however interesting it might 
prove to our readers, especially those who are engaged in stock-raising. 

But it is impossible to follow the Society through all the years since its 
re-organization in 1855. Suffice it, that at the present time it is in a flourish- 
ing state, and the people of the county are justly proud of their association. 
The last meeting took place in September, 1878, occupying five days, the 17th, 
18th, 19th, 20th and 21st ; the premium-list embraces ten pages of closely 
printed matter in a pamphlet printed for gratuitous distribution. The grounds 
of the Society comprise twenty-four acres well improved, substantially inclosed, 
with stock-stalls and all necessary buildings, and of a total value of about 
$6,000. The present officers are as follows, viz., S. D. Dole, of Mattoon, 
President ; James Shoemaker, of Loxa, I. J. Montfort, of Charleston, T. G. 
Chambei-s, of Charleston, M. B. Valodin, of Oakland, Vice Presidents ; E. R. 
Connely, Samuel Van Meter, C. E. Wilson, Adam Millar and Isaac Flenner, 
Board of Directors; R. S. Hodgen, Secretary, and J. K. Decker, Treasurer. 

The farmers of Coles County have for years past devoted considerable 
attention to the improvement of their stock, and many of them are at present 
engaged largely in breeding blooded horses, cattle and hogs. Of horses, the 
Norman stock is being introduced in the county, and as draft horses are popu- 
lar, while other blooded horses are receiving some attention. W. A. Whitte- 
more, H. M. Ashmore, J. W. AVright and I. N. Gibbs are specially engaged in 
breeding fine horses. Blooded cattle are being more extensively raised, as this 



268 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

section of the country is more favorably adapted to cattle than horses. S. C. 
Ashmore, William MiHar, Ambrose Edwards and Isaac Flenner make a 
specialty of Short Horns. R. L. Reat, of Herefords and Jerseys, and R. S. 
Hodgen, of Jerseys. 

Shepard & Alexander are known, not only over the State of Illinois, but 
throughout the entire country, for their fine breed of Poland-China hogs. 
Their fine specimens of this famous stock of hogs have been exhibited at Chi- 
cago, St. Louis, Indiana State Fair, Illinois State Fair, Kansas State Fair, 
and all the surrounding county fairs, where they have been invariably awarded 
the highest prizes. But we shall refer more particularly to this subject in the 
history of Charleston Township. 

In conclusion of the history of the Agricultural Society and the fine 
stock of the county, we deem it of some general interest to the reader, to 
append the following abstract from the Assessor's returns for 1878, as showing 
the amount of stock, its value, together with other property, and the grain 
produced for the past year : 

AssesseJ valuation. 

Horses, number of head 10,402 ,$ 208 028 

Cattle, " •' l.'),'J73 143,875 

Mules and asses, number of head 1 ,-"'.13 30,975 

Sheep, number of head 6,971 5,948 

Hogs, " " .35,176 39,746 

Steam engines 20 0,010 

Fire-proof safes ■ 50 1,353 

Carriages and wagons 3,664 48,007 

Watches and clocks 3,552 7,754 

Sewing machines 1,575 14,854 

Piano-fortes 179 8,366 

Melodeons and organs 167 4 679 

Improved lands 268,863 3,3.33,290 

UniiM|in)ve(i lands 49,491 249,074 

Improved town and city lots 2.46? 769,909 

Unimproved town and city lots 3,384 \ 76,325 

Total value of assessed property in the county* §5,642,818 

No. of acres of wheat in 1878 19,500 

No. of acres of corn in 1878 100. (U6 

No. of acres of oats in 1878 10,075 

No. of acres of meadow in 1878 24,549 

No. of acres of otiier field products 6.300 

No. of acres of inclosed pasture 97,408 

No. of acres of orchard 6,700 

No. of acres of wood-land 53,200 

THE COUNTY FAKM. 

"The poor ye have with you alway." Originally, the mode of taking 
care of the poor of the county, was through an officer in each township or elec- 
tion precinct, styled " Over.seer of the Poor," who looked after the welfare of the 

♦Several items of taxalile property not given in the aliove table. 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTy. 269 

poor and needy, supplied their wants and, at a regular meeting, brought his 
bill before the County Board. But this system was found to be rather expen- 
sive, the county, it is said, having paid out as much as §12,000 in a single year 
for the benefit of its poor. So this mode was changed to a county farm. Some 
time during the war the county purchased a small tract of land in Pleasant 
Grove Township, but becoming dissatisfied with this, from some cause or other, 
probably its location at the very edge of the county, it was sold in 1865, and 
forty acres bought in La Fayette Township. After using this a few years in 
the capacity of a county farm, it was sold and 258 acres purchased in 1870, in 
Ashmore Township. Upon this farm substantial buildings have been erected, 
and all necessaries and conveniences prepared for taking care of the poor com- 
fortably. The main building is a substantial two-story brick, and will accom- 
modate about sixty persons. This farm, at the time of its purchase by the 
county, was well improved, having a comfortable frame residence, barns and all 
necessary outbuildings, so that the only additional expense to thfe purchase of 
the land was the erection of the brick building above referred to. Upon a 
written request to the Superintendent of the farm, Joshua Ricketts, Esq., we 
received the following, which we give in full, as it contains much of general 
interest, as well as some valuable hints : " The number at present in our County 
Poorhouse is thirty-three. This is about the average for the year. There are 
twenty-one females and twelve males. Four of the inmates are over eighty 
years of age ; two of them are white and two black. One of these blacks is 
supposed to be at least 100 years old. The blacks are both females, and were 
slaves until freed by the emancipation proclamation of President Lincoln. Old 
John Golliday, well known to many of the citizens of the county, having been 
a resident for over forty years, was once the lawful owner of 400 acres of good 
land in Morgan Township, but by not doing right, he lost it all, and now has to 
betaken care of at the expense of the public. I am convinced that fully nine- 
tenths of all pauperism in this county may be traced either directly or indi- 
rectly to the use of intoxicating drinks. Not that there were that number who 
were drunkards, . but the sin of othei's has, in many cases, visited the children 
to the third and fourth generations. It is but a few days since a poor, degraded 
creature left the house to return to his old haunts, where he can again wallow 
in the ditch, steeped in the fire of the still. This same man said that he felt 
as if could drink fully three inches of whisky, so anxious was he to get back 
to his old rum-holes. I am thoroughly satisfied that there would be no real neces- 
sity for poorhouses if intoxicating liquors were banished from the land. 

" As to the mode of conducting the house, we have a set of rules for the gov- 
ernment of inmates, which are hung up in the house so that all can know what 
is required of them. The Supervisors of the various towtiships are ex-ofEcio 
Overseers of the Poor of their respective townships, and by their order the Su- 
perintendent receives and takes under his care those who are dependent and help- 
less. . The county owns some two hundred and fifty-eight aci'es of land, about 



270 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

two hundred acres of which is plow and grass land : the remainder is principally 
timber-land. On the farm is a brick building 38x58 feet, two stories high, and 
a kitchen attached to the main building, extending some 28 feet in length and 
16 in width, with a large porch facing the east. There is also a very comfortable 
dwelling for the Superintendent and his family and a large barn, with soma 
smaller buildings. There is an oixhard of about one hundred and fifty bear- 
ing trees, consisting of apples, peaches and cherries. In the summer time, the 
paupers are employed some portion of the time in cultivating tobacco, of which 
weed they are, as a rule, very fond." 

The Superintendent has to enter into a contract with the Board of Super- 
visors, and give a heavy bond, obligating himself to take care and treat kindly 
and humanely all who may be placed under his care, stipulating the kind and 
variety of food that shall be furnished. It is now nine years since the county 
bought the farm where the Poorhouse is now located, eight miles east of Charles- 
ton, immediately on the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad. There were twen- 
ty-seven paupers moved from the old house, four miles west of Charleston, to 
this place, October 25, 1870, of which number there are remaining on hand at 
the present time seven — two men and five women. There have been thirty-two 
deaths at the house, out of some two hundred and fifty persons who have 
been received and cared for. The attending physician (A. T. Robertson), says 
it is remarkable what cures have been effected. Most of those who have 
died were far gotie when received. The oldest person who died was Mrs. Anna 
Higgenbotham, a cousin to Gen. Winfield Scott. 

RAILROADS OF THE COUNTY. 

To obtain an accurate idea of the railroads of Coles County, one must go 
back before the day of railroads and note briefly their causes. 

The first railways in the world began in the collieries in England, and were 
simple tramways — wooden rails — on which the cars were hauled by mules. As 
in many places the way from the collieries to the coal-yards was up an inclined 
plane, the cars were hauled by the mules up the plane, and allowed to return 
by their own gravity. " By little and by little," as Charles Dickens would say, 
the tracks were extended to the shipping points, and, finally, to the chief 
markets. Then the laborers began to ride to and from their daily tasks ; then 
others rode ; then a car made to carry only laborers and those desiring to ride 
was placed im the track; steam began now and then to be recognized as an 
important factor among the immense motive powers of the world, and, about 
1825, George Stephenson invented and placed in successful operation an engine 
that drew a train of cars over a wooden railway, protected by an iron covering, 
at the rate of twelve miles an hour. This road ran from one town to another, 
over vale and hill, up-hill and down, astonishing the incredulous English, who 
prophesied only dire disaster and distress would attend the operating of such a 
monster. Soon the railways, operated by steam, and carrying a train of cars 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 271 

that "annihilated both time and space, " were coming rapidly into use in the 
mother country. The American nation, not to be outdone, had caught the con- 
tagion, and, in 1830, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad commenced active opera- 
tions to open a similar line, extending westward from that city. In 1826, a 
tramway was built from Quincy, Mass., the home of the Adams family, to the 
granite quarries, a few miles away — the pioneer railroad in America. On this 
primitive affair only mules or horses were used, and it was never put to any 
other purpose than the hauling of granite from the quarries. 

From 1830 to 1835, railroads in the East received a considerable impulse. 
Improvements of all kinds were being made, a speed of twenty and thirty 
miles an hour was attained, and the benefits of their construction and use were 
becoming more apparent. 

About this time, it began to occur to the denizens of the Prairie State that 
their domain wa,s the best place in all the world for such enterprises. " For," 
argued they, " have wo not a rich, productive soil, an even country, I'equiring 
but little preparation, and needing no expensive grading, filling or costly 
bridges. Does not our land bring forth plenty, and, if we had proper means 
for transporting our products away and bringing money and settlers back to us. 
what a country we would be ! " 

A desire always finds a favorable argument and some way to accomplish its ends. 

True, there was no money to build such works, and Pennsylvania and other 
Eastern States which had entered on such schemes had invariably been the losers; 
for " rings " would form and steal what they could not get honestly. Yet Illinois 
soon found a way, and the attempt was made. In his message to the General As- 
sembly, at the session of 1835, Gov. Joseph Duncan urged the Legislature, now 
ripe for action, to the furtherance of schemes that were so brilliant in their pros- 
pects. That body responded by such subsidies and grants to internal improvements 
as to astonish even the sanguine Governor himself Before they stopped, so 
infatuated were they with the glorious future so enchantingly spread out before 
them, they had entailed a debt of more than $14,000,000, all confidently 
expected to be paid by the improvements themselves and by the consequent 
increase in property. 

The Utopian scheme dazzled the eyes of the Governor, the Legislature and 
the people. They saw nothing but the most prosperous times ahead, and began 
at once a system of financiering that in the end well nigh impoverished the 
State. Gold and silver, the money of the world from its infancy, could, of 
course, not be had for the fulfillment of the plans, and a system of bonds was 
instituted, based on the faith of the State, redeemable in a series of years, and 
payable in coin in the banks in New York. It was confidently predicted that 
the bonds would not only sell at par, but would command a premium. They 
were to be paid from the proceeds of the canal and railroads, and were adver- 
tised as the best securities to be had. The first installment went off easily ; but 
human greed began to exhibit itself, and " rings " were formed, and, before any 



272 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

one was awai'e, the bonds of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio — for these States were 
in the meshes of the same visionary scheme — began to decline. When work 
began on the Illinois and Michigan Canal, on the Illinois Central Railroad and 
a few other such enterprises, laborers flocked tt> the State, prices of everything 
advanced, and the day of prosperity so confidently predicted in the early stages 
of the "plan," seemed now at hand. The men of the day, blinded by the ap- 
parent success of the scheme, like men of this day, seemed to overlook 
the foct that every article of trade, whether food, labor or merchandise, ad- 
vanced with the influx of currency issued bv the State banks, brought into life 
by the scheme, and that in this respect things were no cheaper than before. 
Now, at first $1 would buy but little less than befoi'e. Soon it took $2 to buy 
what §1 would before, and so on, till, when the system collapsed, $100 of State 
money would buy only as much as §16 in gold. 

The projected works were simply marvelous in extent. Almost ever}' county 
in Illinois was to have a railroad, and in those where none were projected, 
$200,000 was to be distributed. Work was to begin at both ends of the rail- 
roads and the canal, and in any other places where heavy grades were encountered. 
Among the projected routes was one from Cairo to the northern limit of the 
State, especially to meet the southern end of the canal, this was to run tiirough 
or near Coles County. Another was projected from Terre Haute, Ind., west- 
ward to Alton, 111. It was stipulated by the "Alton interest," as that faction 
was known in the Senate, that no road should terminate at St. Louis. That 
city was a rival to Alton, which confidently expected to overtake and pass her 
opulent neighbor, and, in time, completely overshadow her. Hence, no favors 
were to be shown the foreign rival. She must be put down some way, and 
that way could be aided by refusing all means of ingress and egress, 
save through Alton. For this reason, the road from Terre Haute westward, 
must stop at Alton, and all business coming from the East must center there. 
That the railroad was to be built no one for a moment doubted. It was to be 
known as the Terre Haute & Alton Railroad, and contracts for its construction 
were let early in the life of the Internal Improvement system. Work began at 
both ends and progre-ssed centerward. Grading and filling was done at each ex- 
tremity, the route determined on, and for a short time progressed favorably. As 
the bonds of the State declined in value, and its currency fell in a like ratio, 
the demands of the laborer, unskilled in finance, and caring only for their pay, 
became more and more exorbitant, and when the failure of the system came, 
they abruptly abandoned the State, with all manner of maledictions cast upon it. 
The work on the railroad did not reach Coles County. That on the Illinois 
Central suffered a similar fate, and no signs of railroads appeared here, save in 
the surveyor's lines and stakes, and in the losses some of its people suffered 
from the collapse, and return to a specie basis. 

The hard times that followed have almost an unequaled history. The 
decline in fictitious values, the distress of many people who had caught the 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 273 

contagion of suddenly growing rich without giving an equivalent for the pros- 
perity, the fall of real estate, the high price of produce, and, more than all, 
the dread of emigrants, who feared to link their lives with a commonwealth 
whose taxes for the future seemed unbearable, gave the State a reputation any- 
thing but agreeable. 

It was young, however, full of resources, and confident in its powers. 
Able men took the helm ; a series of redeemable, long-time bonds was issued, 
the canal, through additional loans, was completed ; and by the time the Mexican 
war began to agitate the minds of the American people the bonds of Illinois had 
risen, first to forty, then fifty, then seventy, and now to ninety cents on the 
dollar. To its everlasting credit it must be recorded, all -were paid ; and to-day 
the debt of the State is only a nominal sum, which could be paid at any time. 
Whatever may be said of the system of Internal Improvements, it must be 
recorded that the people learned a lesson, dearly, too, that it does not pay 
municipalities to assume the construction of such works, and that it is always 
disastrous to entail a debt in expectation of future greatness and ability to dis- 
charge it. Where such a course succeeds once, it will fail a hundred times ; 
and even if succeeding, it is only by unnatural methods. ■ 

The reverse of the system was so great that no attempts were made to com- 
plete any of the unfinished roads for over twelve years. Of all the grand 
system of internal railroads in Illinois, but one, the Northern Cross Railroad, 
was the only one that reached practical results. Of that, in the spring of 
1837, some eight miles were built, and, on November 8, the first locomotive 
that ever turned a wheel in the Mississippi Valley was placed and made a trial- 
trip, running out and back on the eight miles of. the old flat bar track. The road 
was finished on to Jacksonville, and, in the spring of 1842, to Springfield, where 
it terminated. The little locomotive, minus a spark-arrester and cow-catcher, 
was a terror to cattle and buildings, throwing the one ruthlessly from the track, 
and burning the other with its sparks. It was, after running a year or so, run 
oif the track by a drunken engineer, and sold to Gen. Semples, of Alton, who 
nearly bankrupted himself in a fruitless endeavor to make a steam road-wagon 
of it. Mule-power superseded the engine on this road until about 18-17, when 
the track was sold (being worn out, and the strap rails stolen for sled shoes by 
the surrounding populace) to a company of capitalists, for $100,000, one-tenth 
of its cost, and by them remodeled, equipped, completed and the beginning of the 
present Wabash Railway was the result. 

TERKE HAUTE & ALTON RAILROAD. 

In 1850, the next railroad was made in Illinois. By February of that 
year, the Chicago & Galena (now Chicago & North-Western) was finished as far 
as Elgin, and an excursion-train ran between the two cities. A great revival 
in railroad interests sprang up. Among those sharing in the awakening was the 
old Terre Haute & Alton Road, which a second time comes into the narrative. 



274 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTV. 

Work began under a new corporation in 1851. The old route was deter- 
mined on, as much of it at either end could yet. be used. As has been stated, 
no grading had been done in Coles County. The Illinois Central, whose early 
history is analagous to that of the Terre Haute & Alton, was surveyed while 
work was being done on the latter road, and an agreement made between the 
two roads stipulated that whichever got to the place of contact last should 
bear the e.xpense of crossing. Work went vigorously on through 1853, 1854 
and 1855, and, in order to accomplish the feat, the Terre Haute & Alton Road 
hastily graded their route and reached Mattoon first. This was accomplished 
in the winter of 1855. As fast as either end of the roads was completed, cars 
were put on, the intervening links being traversed by stages which carried pas- 
sengers who desired to travel in the then incomplete condition of the roads. 
This road completed its bed and ran a train of cars through from Terre Haute 
to Alton a little before the liolidays in the winter of 1855-56. The grading 
was very incomplete, many places the engine being unable to pull but few cars 
at a time. When "stuck," as the natives called it, fence-rails were used as an 
assistant motive power, or neighboring horses or o.xen borrowed to help liaul 
the engine over the incline. 

About the time of the building of this and the Central road, a policy 
arose on the part of the residents of Central Illinois known as the ''State's 
Policy." It more particularly affected those on the line of the Terre Haute & 
Alton Road, whose terminus was Alton, which by the people of that city, always 
a rival of its great foreign neighbor, was considered as one of the public cor- 
porations tliat would in time enable her to become what she sought to be — 
the emporium of the Mississippi Valley. This policy party sprung suddenly 
into existence when the Ohio & Mississippi, and the Vandalia — then known as 
the Brough Road — attempted to get charters. They must not center at a 
point opposite St. Louis;, they must come to Alton or not be built. No track 
■was allowed to be laid from Alton to the river on this side of St. Louis, 
and for two years this "policy" threatened the serious failure of these two 
corporations. It was extremely narrow, selfish and bigoted, and was handled 
witiiout gloves by the foreign press and by the people on the line of these two 
roads striving to get a crossing in Illinois. Not until 1852-o3. did the party 
lose its power in the State Legislature, and not till a new body was elected fiom 
the people, who, by this time began to see its narrowing effects, were the 
desired cliarters allowed. 

Senators Douglas and Young wrote letters to prominent men in Illinois 
urging them to abandon the idea, and pointing out to them the fact that the 
grant to the Central Railroad could not have been obtained, iiad such a "pol- 
icy" been known to exist. 

Owing to this feeling, mainly, the Terre Haute & Alton Road was built 
from the city on the Wabash to her aspiring neighbor on the Father of Waters; 
and, owing to this same policy lurking then in the minds of the citizens of tliat 



.J^f*?^ ■ 



•"\ 





DCCEASED) 
PLEASANT grove: 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. • 277 

place, was the road for a number of years compelled to transfer its freight and 
passengers to boats, and float them to the mighty emporium on the western 
bank of the same mighty stream. It was finally overcome, however. A track 
was built to the east .side of the river, opposite St. Louis, where, until the erec- 
tion of the present grand bridge, the ferry-boat transferred them over the river. 

With the change of terminus, a change of name occurred, and when the 
connection was effected with the road leading eastward to the capital of Indiana, 
the name assumed its present form. 

Now it connects with the " Bee Line," eastward, and forms a continuous 
route from the cities of the Mississippi Valley to those on the Atlantic seaboard. 

Mr. E. B. McClure, the General Superintendent, is a citizen of Coles 
County, residing at Mattoon. Here is what what may be termed the " Half- 
way House," and here are some of the principal offices. The car-shops of this 
Company were removed from Litchfield, in 1870, and erected on a lot of ground 
donated by the residents of the northeast part of town, where they are placed. 
They were secured through a donation of $60,000 on the part of Mattoon, in 
whose history a full account of them may be found. 

I 

THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD. 

Like the Indianapolis & St. Louis, the Illinois Central had its rise in the 
Internal Improvement system of 1835, and, like that road, went down in the 
collapse of the system in 1840. Some work was done on the road during this 
period, chiefly at the northern end — its connection with the canal. It was 
intended to connect the canal and the junction of the rivers at Cairo by means 
of this road ; and from published statements of the late Judge Sidney Brcese 
and letters of Stephen A. Douglas, we learn the idea originated as early as 
1835, the commencement of the system referred to. 

The revival of railroads and the consequent improvement in property 
received a great impulse in Congress by the grant of 3,000,000 acres of 
land to the State of Illinois for the construction of the Central road. A more 
munificent grant of land could hardly be imagined at that date, and to the 
Senators and Representatives in Congress of that session is the grant due. 
The provisions of the grant were that the roail was to be completed in ten 
years. In case of failure, the unsold lands were to revert to the General Gov- 
ernment, and for those sold the State was to pay the Government price. The 
belt of land was to include each alternate section for a width of twelve sections, 
the odd-numbered sections to be the property of the railroad, the even-num- 
bered ones to be the property of the Government, and to be sold at not less 
than double the ordinary price ($1.25 per acre), i. e., $2.50 per acre. 

The lands in this belt not already sold were to be withdrawn from market 
and to remain so until the location of the road was permanently decided upon. 
The State found itself in possession of the grant of land at the session of 1850, 
and 1851, and as the act of Congress had passed the September previous, the 



278 • HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

intervening time had been assiduously taken up by the press and stump of the 
State in advocating and discussing plan.s for carrying out the pi'oject. It may 
be remarked here that every plan brought forward was secretly fed by private 
interests as much or more than by public good. Each town on any line from 
Cairo to La Salle knew it was destined to be the one the road should pass 
through. The session of the State Legislature was harassed by various monop- 
olists, who saw in the brilliant prospects an easy way to secure wealth, and who, 
for a time, seriously crippled the enterprise. Many persons were strongly in 
favor of the State engaging in the work as it had done twelve years before, and 
advocated the payment of the State indebtedness by means of the sale of the 
lands and profits from the lands. 

The maxim that " A burnt child dreads the fire" was exemplified here. 
The State did not cai-e to repeat the experiment it had so disastrously attempted 
a few years before; especially so when an unexpected solution of the problem 
of how to best build the road presented itself. 

Robert Schuyler, George Griswold, Gouverneur Morris, Jonathan Sturgis, 
George W. Ludlow and John F. A. Sanford, of New York City, and David A. 
Neal, Franklin Haven and Robert Rantoul, Jr., of Boston, came before the 
Legislature, represented by one of their number, and offered, if the State would 
give them the grant of land, they would build and equip the road, and have it 
in running order by the year 1854 ; that by the 4th day of July, in that year, 
the road would be completed. There was a speedy, unlooked for solution of the 
whole question. A company of capitalists step forward, propose to complete and 
equip the road in a given length of time, much shorter than the State could 
hope to — to, in fact, relieve them of all care in the matter, and, when done, to 
pay annually into the treasury 7 per cent of all its gross earning in lieu of all 
taxes. State and municipal. It is said, in their eagerness to obtain the road, 
the capitalists would have bound themselves to pay 10 per cent as readily as 7 ; 
but that that was engineered through the Assembly by a prominent citizen of 
Illinois, who was secured for this purpose by the company. After a^ little delay 
in getting the Commissioner of the Land Office, at Washington, to convey the 
land to the company, work was begun. At tiie outset, much strife was engen- 
dered over the route the road should take, several towns vying with each other 
in their efforts to obtain not only the road through their midst, but the com- 
mencement of the branch to Chicago. The question was finally decided by the 
State selecting a route as direct as possible, through a region containing as 
much unsold land as possible, thereby gaining all tlie land she could. The 
main line ran from Cairo north to Central City, where the Chicago branch 
diverged in the direction of that city, taking in its route Coles County. The 
main stem continued north through Decatur, Bloomington, La Salle, where it 
encountered the southern end of the canal, and on northward, ending at Galena. 
Thus, by rare sagacity, a company of capitalists found themselves in possession 
of a magnificent railway, built from the proceeds of bonds issued by them 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 279 

secured by the lands, without the outlay of a dollar of their own money. They 
set aside a cei'tain part of the lands, the proceeds of which were to be applied 
to the interest on the bonds. The prices realized for all these lands ranged 
from $5 to $55 per acre, and as the road opened, an immense region of hitherto 
unproductive lands, the sales on the part of both the road and the Government 
were simply enormous. The Government was the real gainer, for much of the 
lands had been in the market over thirty years and had not found a purchaser. 
Now, the railway promised a speedy outlet for farm produce ; towns and 
villages sprung into existence with Western-like prodigality, and before a decade 
of years' had passed, the enterprise had yielded a hundred-fold. It was the 
first subsidy granted any railroad by the Government — a practice which, we are 
prone to say, has, in a measure, been somewhat abused. 

The Illinois Central Road was completed and in full running order by the 
winter of 1856, a year and a half from the time the memorialists agreed to 
make it, they having been delayed in getting the grant of land properly deeded 
to them by the Commissioner of the Land Office at Washington. Construction- 
trains were running that \Yinter, and on January 1, 1856, says Mr. Frank Alli- 
son, of Mattoon, a passenger-train made the first run from Chicago to Cairo. 

This railway is one of the longest in the West, and from the 7 per cent of 
its earnings a revenue accrues to the State amounting now to over a half-million 
dollars annually. This, the Company has at various times endeavored to reduce 
or change ; but the people have set their faces against it, and, not long since, 
have placed it beyond the reach of the Legislature, by a constitutional amend- 
ment to the organic law of the State. 

OTHER RAILROADS. 

In addition to the two extensive lines of railway crossing the county, three 
others have been added since the war; none, however, so great or having such 
history as their predecessors. 

The close of the late rebellion threw upon the country a large force of 
unemployed men, and a vast amount of capital. This latter was used in open- 
ing new enterprises, and, as the States had learned to let such affairs alone, men 
with tact and energy stood ready to enter upon them. A railroad from Mattoon 
to Danville ; from Mattoon to Gray ville, thence to Evansville ; from Charleston 
to several other towns in the State, was proposed, while roads in various direc- 
tions across the county were projected. Of these enterprises we will mention 
none save the successful ones : the Grayville & Mattoon, the Decatur, Mattoon 
& Southern, and the Illinois Midland. 

The Grayville iS: Mattoon Railroad began to be talked about as early as 
1866. One effort brought on another, and in the columns of the Mattoon 
papers, from that time down to 1872 and 1873, large-headed articles appear 
every week or so, all prophesying great results. Townships along the line of 
the proposed road gave liberally in bonds and private subscriptions, as those 



280 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

along the line of the Indianapolis & St. Louis had done, and a speedy comple- 
tion was expected. Only twenty-eight or thirty miles of grading were com- 
pleted, however, and that in Richland County, and for four or five years the 
road lay dormant. In 1874, a new company was formed, and by two yeirs 
had the grading completed to the south line of Coles County. Work was con- 
tinued on up through the county, at first running the line to intersect the 
Illinois Central about a mile south of Mattoon. The grade was made here ; 
but afterward changed, and brought directly into the town. It was all com- 
pleted and the track laid by July 4, 1878, and on that day a grand excursion, 
under the care of J. H. Herkimer, the Receiver, was inaugui'ated, and a hila- 
rious day made along the route. The road has been operating since then, and 
has had a good local trade, the freight business especially being quite heavy. 
A short time ago, Mr. Herkimer and his associate oiEcers resigned, from various 
causes, and were succeeded by E. B. Phillips, Receiver ; M. H. Riddell, Gen- 
eral Traveling Agent ; S. C. Anthony, General Clerk, and S. M. Henderson, 
Roadmaster. This road received §75,000 in bonds from Mattoon Township 
and the city ; from the former, two-thirds, and from the latter, one-third. The 
vote on this question was held in Mattoon, Tuesday, February 9, 1869 ; 444 
votes were cast in favor of the tax, and 7 against it. Whether the town and 
township are justified in such a heavy debt, in addition to several others of a 
similar character, i. e., the $60,000 for the shops, is a serious question, and one 
which conservative citizens are inclined to doubt. 

The Decatur, Mattoon & Southern Railroad was begun in 1871, and com- 
pleted to Hervey City, seven miles from Decatur, by 1873. Here, this Com- 
pany was allowed a joint use of the Illinois Midland Company's track to 
Decatur, which the courts afterward decided they were entitled to, and which 
they yet use. 

January 16, 1874, the i-oad passed into a Receiver's hands, and the name 
changed to the present one, it being formerly known as the Decatur. Sullivan 
& Mattoon Railroad. Since that date, the Receiver has been managing it. It 
is run in connection with the Indianapolis k St. Louis Road, and is under the 
care of Mr. E. B. McClure as Manager. Mr. W. H. Lewis is the General 
Ajient. Both these gentlemen reside at Mattoon, and are connected with the 
Indianapolis & St. Louis Road. 

The remaining road, the Illinois Midland Railway, runs through but a small 
part of Coles County. It crosses the township of Oakland from east to west, 
passing through the village. The road runs from Terre Haute to Peoria, and 
is in three divisions, which originally were separate roads ; when consolidated, 
the present name was adopted. The part running through Coles County wa.s 
built from Decatur to Paris, under the name of the Paris & Decatur Railroad. 
It was completed in 1871, and, for a time, used the track of the Indianapolis k 
St. Louis Road from Paris to Terre Haute. When the Paris & Terre Haute 
Road was completed, in 1875, it forraeil a junction with that road, and, soon 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 281 

after, consolidated witli it. Only about si.x miles of this railroad passes through 
Coles County, and that in the extreme northeast part, in Oakland Township, in 
whose liistory it is more fully noticed. 

While on the history of railroads, it might not be amiss to say something 
about telegraphs. They were, in their infancy, regarded as somewhat super- 
natural, as all things are apt to be when we cannot understand them ; and, when 
a line was brought through Coles County in advance of the railway, it is related 
that it was not uncommon for some of the worthy citizens to hourly gaze upon it to 
see the news flash along. Their desires were, however, not gratified. They 
couldn't see the news ; but they thought they could hear it, especially when 
they stood near a post and heard the ring caused by the vibration of the wires, 
with the air passing over them. The supposition lasted very satisfactorily until 
they found out better, and was as harmless as deceptive. 

The first operator in town was Fred Tubbs, and was succeeded by W. W. 
Craddock. They were here in 1850, at the time the railways^ of the State 
began their second era of construction, and have since been prominently known 
in the county. Other lines were added to the one running east and west across 
the county, as the railways were built and the utility of such inventions became 
apparent. Now, they run in all directions, and one can talk with another, even 
though a continent be between them. Should the telephone supersede the tel- 
egraph, as it bids fair to do, those of the future will see a result almost beyond 
our conception. 

^ POLITICAL AND WAR RECORD. 

In the days of Whigs and Democrats, Coles was a Whig county by several 
hundred majority, in contests where party lines were closely drawn. Upon the 
organization of the Republican party, a change came over the color of its poli- 
tics, and for a number of years it was Democratic; but, eventually, the Repub- 
licans gained the ascendency, and for several years carried the day in all impor- 
tant elections. At the present time, the political question is toned down to a 
point, that both of the great parties claim to be the dark horse. At the last 
Presidential election, the county was carried by the Hayes Electors by a small 
majority. In the local elections of the last few years, the spoils have been 
pretty equally divided between Democrats and Republicans. The present 
county oiBcers and their political faith are thus represented : Hon. J. R. Cun- 
ningham, County Judge, Democrat ; J. F. Goar, County Treasurer, Repub- 
lican ; William R. Highland, County Clerk, Democrat ; W. E. Robinson, 
Circuit Clerk, Republican. The latter was elected by a small majority, and 
his election contested by Mr. Clarke, his Democratic competitor for the office. 
The case was tried in the County Court, and occupied the spare moments of 
Judge Adams, of that august tribunal, from December until the June follow- 
ing, when it was decided in Robinson's favor. Clarke, still unsatisfied, appealed 
to the Supreme Court, which body confirmed the decision of the County Court, 
and thus Mr. Robinson's title to the oflSce was settled. The other county offi- 



282 HISTORY OP COLES COUNTY. 

cers — J. E. Brooks, Sheriff; T. J. Lee, Superintendent of Schools; and John 
L. Aubert, County Surveyor — are Democrats. Such is the political record of 
the county. It is probable, howevei", that, in a State or national contest, with 
a full vote on both sides, the Republicans would carry the day. 

Coles County's war history is written in characters of blood upon a hun- 
dred battle-fields. Citizens of Coles have figured in every war, from the Revo- 
lution down to the great rebellion that shook the republic to its very founda- 
tion. In many of the Indian wars of the times, they have borne an honorable 
part. Upon the records of the County Commissioner's Court of 1835, we 
find the certificates of Elisha Hadden, John Parker, Joseph Painter, John 
Hart and Grifiin Tipsoward, made under oath to the Commissioners' Court for 
the purpose of obtaining a pension under an act of the United States Congress 
passed in 1832. These parties made oath to their services in the armies of the 
United States during the Revolutionary war and the wars with the Indians of 
those times. Hadden stated on his oath that he was in the battle of King's 
Mountain, in North Carolina, "against the British and Tories;" and that. 
in a battle soon after with the Cherokee Indians, he was wounded, and for 
three months lay in the fort helpless, and was then carried home to North Carolina 
on a litter. Painter testified that he was in the Revolutionary battle of Eutaw 
Springs, and several skirmishes in North Carolina. Hart, that he entered the 
service of the United States in 1776, and served under Gen. Clarke, and was 
in several battles with the Indians. Grifiin Tipsoward, that he entered the 
service in Virginia, in 1775, and at the close of the war was discharged by 
Gen: Washington. 

In the war of 1812, many of the pioneers of this county had participated, 
as elsewhere noticed, and some are still living who took part in that struggle 
with Johnny Bull. In the Black Hawk war of 1832, an entire company from 
Coles County (then in her infancy) responded to the call of the Governor for 
troops. Many of them are still surviving. The officers of this company 
were: James P. Jones, Captain: Thomas Sconce, Isaac Lewis and James Law. 
Lieutenants. In the Mexican war, notwithstanding it was consi(iered a Demo- 
cratic issue and Coles was a Whig county, a full company was raised and par- 
ticipated in many of the battles, among which were those of Vera Cruz and 
Cerro Gordo. The officers of the company were : W. W. Bishop, Captain ; 
J. J. Adams, First Lieutenant ; H. C. Dunbar, Second Lieutenant, and 
Charles Jones, Orderly Sergeant. Bishop and Adams are dead, Dunbar lives 
in Texas, and several of the rank and file are still living in the county. 

In the war of the rebellion. Coles County furnished quite a little army. 
The Seventh and Eighth Regiments of three-months men, each drew a com- 
pany from the county ; the Seventh a company from Mattoon, and the Eighth 
a company from Charleston. The Twenty-first (Grant's old regiment) con- 
tained many men from Coles, as well as the Twenty-fifth, Thirty-eighth, Fifty- 
fourth, Sixty -second and One Hundred and Twenty-third Volunteers and the 



f 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 283 

Fifth Cavalry. The One Hundred and Twenty-third Regiment contained 
seven companies that were called Coles County companies. In a history like 
this, however, it is impossible to give a complete and correct record of a 
county's participation in the late war. Space will not permit. Besides, from 
the records that have been kept, it is not an easy matter to obtain the names of 
all who deserve mention. Tlierefore. we shall make no attempt to particular- 
ize any one, but will add that the record of Coles County soldiers is above 
reproach. Their deeds are engraved upon the hearts of their countrymen, and 
their reward is found in the happy reflection that the old flag still floats over 
all the States. And for those who laid down their lives to maintain the Union, 
and whose lone graves are fanned by Southern winds, we know of no better 
meed to their bravery, no sweeter tribute to their memory, than the beautiful 
lines from the pen of Col. Theodore O'Hara, of Kentucky, and dedicated to 
the heroes of that State who fell in the Mexican war, when their bones were 
collected and interred in the State Cemetery at Frankfort: 

'•The muffled drum's sad roll has beat 

The soldier's last tattoo ! 
No more on life's parade shall meet 

That brave and fallen few ; 
On Fame's eternal camping-ground 

Their silent tents are spread, 
And glory guards with solemn roun<l 

The bivouac of the dead I " 

These beautiful lines, written for the Kentucky dead of the Mexican war, 
have been adopted by Massachusetts and inscribed upon a splendid monument 
erected to her dead heroes of the late war. They are a touching tribute to the 
soldier who lays down his life for his country and sleeps the eternal sleep, 
never more to heed the call to arms until the last reveille shall sound from the 
battlements of heaven. Peace to their ashes. 

MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY. 

There are few individuals, and perhaps few countries, but have some dark 
pages in their histories. To err is human nature, and to say that the people of 
Coles County, or certain classes of them, have sometimes erred is but to pro- 
claim them human — not divine. The murder of Nathan Ellington by Adolph 
Monroe, in October, 1855, was a horrible aff"air, and, considering all the circum- 
stances, peculiarly distressing. Ellington is said to have been a man of 
most excellent character, and highly respected by all who knew him. Mon- 
roe was his sou-in-law. He was a young man of commanding appearance, 
fine address, and had once stood high in the community, but had fallen 
a prey to intoxicating drink. A family feud was engendered, and one 
day, in an altercation with his father-in-law, he drew b revolver and shot 
liim dead. For this crime he was tried by a jury of his peers, found 
guilty of murder in the first degree, and sentenced to be hanged. The day 



284 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

of execution came, and though in midwinter (the 14th of February, 1856), 
and the ground white with snow, a great multitude gathered at the county's 
capital to witness the fulfillment of the law. The heavens were dark, 
as if draped in the '' gloom of earthquake and eclipse," and the elements seemed 
poisoned with the spirit of vengeance, as manifested by the immense crowd which 
had assembled, not only from this, but from adjoining counties. In the mean 
time, a respite of thirty days was granted by the Governor to the doomed man. 
This produced a terrible commotion in the multitude, now changed into a howl- 
ing mob, and threw it into the most insane excitement. It swayed back and 
forth from the Court House to the prisoner's cell, and resolved and re-resolved. 
The death of the fated man, in violation of law, was determined upon. His 
prison was assaulted by the mob, the officers of the law intimidated and over- 
come, and Monroe taken out of jail by ruthless hands. He was dragged to the 
valley west of town by the infuriated people, where a gallows was speedily 
erected, the doomed wretch lifted into a wagon, the rope adjusted, his limbs 
pinioned, the wagon moved from under him, and, without shrift, hurled into 
eternity. Monroe said to one man at the gallows : " I die, and if I go to hell, 
you will go to the same place, for you it was that sold me the whisky that has 
brought me to this terrible fate." What a haunting memory to cling to one 
through life ! It is scarce necessary to add that all tlie best people were 
universal in their condemnation of the disgraceful affair. 

Another dark page in the history of Coles County was the riot which took 
place in Charleston during the stormy scenes occasioned by the late war. and 
the diversity of opinion with which the people regarded it. It is a fact much 
to be regretted that, with a record for patriotism second to no county in the 
State (as reckoned by the number of soldiers furnished), that such an event 
should have occurred to tarnish that glorious record. Doubtless both parties, 
the citizens and soldiers, were more or less to blame for the collision which took 
place between them, and in like manner responsible for the melancholy result. 
Of all the wars that have scourged the earth, a civil war is the most deplorable. 
In England's war of the roses, we have an illustration of the direful results of 
such a strife, and in our own internecine war we equaled, if we did not excel, 
the rival houses of York and Lancaster. It may be that the high-wrought ex- 
citement of the times presented an eligible excuse for the scene enacted in 
Charleston on the 29th of March, 1864, between the same people (brothers as 
it were) who saw the cause and object of the war through different glasses. The 
death of several persons in the streets of Charleston was the sad consequence 
of that difference of opinion. The feelings engendered by the war, which cul- 
minated in bloodshed, have long since toned down, and the participators in the 
deplorable affair (to call it by its mildest name) doubtless regret the part they 
acted in it. So, in no spirit of censure beyond a condemnation of mob violence 
on general principles, we will pass from the subject, flinging over the sad occur- 
rence the spacious robe of charity. 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 285 

In his Centennial Address, Capt. Adams narrates a melancholy occurrence 
in the township of Hickory, at or near Hickory Grove. In the winter 
of 1830-31, which is characterized in the history of Illinois as one of 
unusual severity, three men froze to death near this grove. They had under- 
taken to cross the prairie on horse-back ; the ground was covered with snow 
to a considerable depth, and the air piercingly cold. In their last extremity, 
they killed their horses, and, taking out their entrails, crawled into the warm 
carcasses, but before relief reached them they succumbed to the " Icy King of 
Terrors." The following is from the same source of information : " In 1831, 
three men of the name of Ellis were killed by lightning, in the southwest part 
of the county. The accident occurred on Wednesday, and they were not found 
until the Saturday following. When discovered, their bodies were as limber as 
that of a living person, and never stiffened like a body that meets death from 
natural causes. It was supposed that the lightning had broken the bones 
without ru]ituring the skin." 

Passing from the grave to the gay, from the sad to the ludicrous, it becomes 
our duty, as a faithful historian, to chronicle an event that took place in Coles 
County in 1834. which, while it had a somewhat ludicrous termination, was 
begun in earnest, by one of the parties engaged in it, at least. The circum- 
stance referred to, was a duel fought in Charleston, by Peter Glassco and John 
Gately. A difficulty had arisen between them, which blood alone could satisfy 
or settle, and, accordingly, they resorted to the code of honor to avenge their 
wounded dignity. A challenge was sent and accepted, seconds were selected 
and the weapons (big '' boss " pistols) were chosen. The hostile pai'ties met, 
with ten paces between them, and proceeded to wipe out their wrongs in the most 
approved style. The seconds loaded the pistols with blank cartridges, without 
Glassco's knowledge, however, who, it seems, was the most belligerent of the 
two, and the most deeply grieved. Finally, when all was ready, the principals 
were placed by the seconds, one, two, three, were called, and both parties fired. 
Gately fell, and his second, who had provided a bottle of pokeberry -juice for 
the purpose, ran to him and dexterously saturated his clothes with the contents 
of the bottle, thus giving him a most ghastly appearance. Glassco, petrified 
with terror, gazed at his 6?eec?i«<jr victim, and, horrified at the "ruin he had 
wrought," exclaimed, " My God, I have killed him," threw away his pistol 
and fled. About a year afterward, he was apprised of the fact that the 
duel was a "put-up job," and that Gately still lived, when, with the horror of 
murder removed from his soul, he returned to the county. He never fought 
another duel. 

That scourge of the human race, the Asiatic cholera, one of the gifts of the 
Old World to the new, made a visit, in 1851, to Coles County. For a time 
"it made itself exceedingly odious and repulsive," says one, "and old and 
young alike were the victims of the fell disease." As is usually the case, it visited 
certain localities only, Charleston and Pleasant Grove Township being the suf- 



286 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

ferers. In these sections, many cases occurred ; some of them proved fatal, 
while others recovered. The greatest consternation and excitement prevailed. 
Those not sick became panic-stricken, and fled in confusion and dismay. How 
many died of the disease cannot now be ascertained. Distressing as was the 
ordeal and melancholy in its result, yet it had its humorous side. A very 
amusing anecdote is told of Hon. 0. B. Ficklin's grim fight with the awful 
disease. He was attacked in the harvest-field, rushed home and went to bed, 
sent for all the doctors in town, called his wife and children to his bedside, bade 
them good-by, and kissed them one by one, concluding with his old colored 
cook, and prepared to die with the cholera. He dropped off to sleep, from 
which he awoke, a few hours later, completely restored. Having slept off the 
natural exhaustion (!) of the harvest-field, " Richard was himself again." 

We spoke of a murder and a lynching, a little space ago. Charleston can 
boast of several other murders within her time. But we shall not go into 
details concerning them. Such incidents are better forgotten than perpetuated 
upon the pages of history. We will, therefore, pass them without further 
remark in this connection. 

THE GRAVE OF LINCOLN'S FATHER. 

Thomas Lincoln, the father of the martyred President, was among the 
early settlers of Coles County. He removed froln Kentucky (where the future 
President was born) to Spencer County, Ind., in 1816, when Abraham was 
but seven years old. Here he remained until 1830, when he removed to Macon 
County, 111., and located on the North Fork of the Sangamon River, ten 
miles southwest of Decatur. He came to Coles County about 1832-33, and 
settled in what is now Pleasant Grove Township : but Abraham, having in the 
mean time attained his majority, and commenced the battle of life on his own 
responsibility, did not come with the family to this county. In after years 
however, when be became a practicing lawyer, he often attended the courts of 
Coles County, in which cases he never taileil to visit his father in Pleasant 
Grove, and, it is said, always purchased as many presents (generally of a sub- 
stantial character) as he could stow in his buggy, and conveyed them to the 
family, who were in indigent circumstances. Stuve's History of Illinois gives 
the following of President Lincoln's fiimily : " Abraham Lincoln was born in 
La Rue (now Hardin) County, Ky., about two miles south of the village 
of Hodgensville, February 12, 1809. Here his father had taken up a land" 
claim of 300 acres, rough, broken and poor, containing a fine spring, known to 
this day as the ' Linkum Spring.' Unable to pay for the unproductive land, 
the claim was abandoned, and the family moved from place to place in the 
neighborhood, being very destitute. These removals occurring while Abraham 
was scarcely more than an infant, has given rise to different statements as to 
the exact place of his birth. It is said that in that part of Kentucky four 
places now claim the honor." Thomas Lincoln, the father of Abraham Lincoln, 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTV. 287 

finally removed to Indiana, and then to Illinois, as above stated, and died years 
ago in Pleasant Grove Township. There, in a quiet little cemetery, known as 
" Gordon's Grave-yard," without stone or " lettered monument " to mark the 
spot, sleeps the old pioneer. We give below a poem, entitled the " Grave of 
the Father of Abraham Lincoln," written by G. B. Balch, Esq., of Pleasant 
Grove, and published in many journals throughout the country, from Lippin- 
cott's Magazine to the county papers : 

'• In a low, sweet vale, by a murmuring rill, 
The pioneer's ashes are sleeping; 
Where the white marble slabs so lonely and still. 
In silence their vigils are keeping. 

" On their sad, lonely faces are words of fame. 
But none of them speak of his glory ; 
When the pioneer died, his age and his name. 
No monument whispers the story. 

'• No myrtle, nor ivy, nor hyacinth blows 

O'er the lonely grave where they laid him ; 
No cedar, nor holly, nor almond tree grows 
Near the plebeian's grave to shade him. 

" Bright evergreens wave over many a grave. 
O'er some bow the sad weeping-willow ; 
But no willow-trees bow, nor evergreens wave. 
Where the pioneer sleeps on his pillow. 

" Some are inhumed with the honors of State, 
And laid beneath temples to molder ; 
The grave of the fallier of Lincoln, the great. 
Is known by a hillock and bowlder. 

" Let him take his lone sleep, and gently rest. 
With naught to disturb or awake him. 
When the angels shall come to gather the blest 
To Abraham's bosom, they'll take him.' 

GEOLOGICAL FORMATION. 

The geological deposits and formations of Coles County possess but little 
interest or importance, as compared to many other sections of Illinois. The 
soil of the prairies is of considerable thickness, of a deep black, or dark brown 
color, and very rich and productive. Beneath this soil, according to the geo- 
logical survey of the State, is a loamy clay, which also produces well with 
proper cultivation. The most important feature of the geology of the county, 
however, is the coal-deposit, which is supposed to underlie the county. A man 
of the name of Owens, years ago, discovered coal, and a very good quality, too, 
near where John Mickleblack now lives. Recent investigations, we are 
informed, have developed the fact that not exceeding five hundred feet below 
the surface, coal abounds in great abundance. Doubtless the time is not far 
distant when these coal-fields will become a source of industry, as well as of 
great value to the country. According to geological survey, three-fourths of 



288 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

tlie surface of Illinois are underlaid by beds of coal, and consetiuently have a 
greaiter area of this valuable fuel than any other State of the Union. A 
scientific writer speaks thus upon the formation and discovery of coal : " The 
vast accumulation of vegetable matter from carboniferous plants, either im- 
bedded in the miry soil in which it grew, or swept from adjacent elevations 
into shallow lakes, became covered with sediment, and thus were transformed 
into coal. It has been estimated that eight perpendicular feet of wood were 
required to make one foot of bituminous coal, and twelve to make one foot of 
anthracite. Some beds of the latter are thirty feet in thickness, and hence 
360 feet of timber must have been consumed in their production. The process 
of its formation was exactly the same as practiced in the manufacture of char- 
coal, by burning wood under a covering of earth. Vegetable tissue consists 
mostly of carbon and oxygen, and decomposition must take place, either under 
water or some other impervious covering, to prevent the elements from forming 
carbonic-acid gas, and thus escaping to the atmosphere. Conforming to these 
requirements the immense vegetable growths forming the coal-fields subsided 
with the surface on which they grew, and were buried beneath the succeeding 
deposits. Nova Scotia has seventy-six diflerent beds, and Illinois twelve ; and 
consequently, in these localities, there were as many different fields of verdure 
overwhelmed in the dirt-beds of the sea. Thus, long before the starry cycles 
had measured half the history of the unfolding continent, and when first the 
expanding stream of life but dimly reflected the coming age of mind, this vast 
supply of fuel was stored away in the rocky frame-work of the globe. Here it 
slumbered until man made his appearance and dragged it from its rocky lairs. 
At his bidding, it renders the factory animate with humming spindles, driving 
shuttles, whirling lathes and clanking forges. Under his guidance the iron- 
horse, feeding upon its -pitchy fragments, bounds and tireless treads over its far- 
reaching track, dragging after him the products of distant marts and climes. 
By the skill of the one and the power of the other, the ocean steamer plows the 
deep in opposition to winds and waves, making its watery home a highway for 
the commerce of the world. 

Beyond tlie coal-beds underlying the surface, the county, as we have said, 
is not very rich in geology. There are, we believe, some stone-beds along the 
Embarrass River, but the quality of the stone is poor and of but little value for 
building purposes. With this brief glance at the geological features, we will 
leave the subject, referring the reader to the Geological Survey of the State 
for further information on this interesting point of history. 

THE COUNTY PRESS. 

The first newspaper was established in Coles County in 1840, and was 
called the Charleston Oouriei: But as the township history will contain a 
more complete account of the press, we shall have little to say on the subject 
in this chapter. We wish, however, to leave on record our impression of the 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 289 

value of the files of county papers as sources of history. Their pages give 
a picture from week to week of both national and local events, which can be 
found nowhere else. Even the advertisements give much history, and we 
think there ought to be a provision made for keeping such files in the county 
and city offices. 

There are at present in Coles County si.\ newspapers, viz. : the Courier and 
Plaitulealer, of Charleston ; the Commercial, Journal and Gazette, of Mattoon ; 
and the Herald, of Oakland. These are live, energetic newspapers, well filled 
with the news of the day (this is not an advertisement), and deserve the liberal 
support of the people of the county. 



CHARLESTON TO\YNSHIP. 

" The proud bird, 
The condor of the Andes, that can soar 
Through heaven's unfathomable depths, or brave, 
The fury of the northern hurricane 
And bathe his plumage in the thunder's home. 
Furls his broad wings at nightfall, and sinks down 
To rest upoa his mountain-crag ; but Time 
Knows not the weight of sleep or weariness, 
And night's deep dar'nness has no chain to bind 
His rushing pinions." — Prentice. 

" Time, fierce spirit of the glass and scythe," sets his signet upon the fading 
race of men, and they pass away "as a tale that is told." The "enduring 
marble ' points us to the spot where sleep the pioneers whose magic touch 
changed this country from a " howling waste" to the paradise we find it to-day. 
More than fifty years have " flung their sunshines and shadows o'er the world " 
since the first white people came to Charleston Township and proceeded to set- 
tle themselves to " grow up with the country." Fifty years ! How much has 
transpired in that half-century that has come and gone since the " star of 
empire " crossed the " raging ' Embarrass and paused for a moment over this 
fair region. We have neither time nor space to particularize the changes that 
have taken place in all these rolling years. Go ask the few old gray-heads 
still left how they have seen the palace take th€ place of the " pole cabin," the 
railway-train that of the patient, plodding ox, and the " wilderness rejoice and 
blossom as the rose." They can tell you of these changes far better than we, 
for they are things ' all of which they saw and part of which they were. ' Ours 
is the duty to give the dry, historical details, and faithfully we shall endeavor 
to perform the task. 

^ THE EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

The first permanent settlement was made in Charleston Township in 1825. 
In that year, Seth H. Bates settled here, having removed from Crawford 
County. Jesse Veach, then a young man of eighteen, "moved" him to this 



290 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTV. 

neighborhood, and informs us that there was not a family then on this side of 
the Embarrass River. Bates was originally from Ohio, but had been living 
some ten years in Crawford County before emigrating to this. He remained 
here but a short time, however, when he sold out and removed to the Kickapoo 
settlement, in what is now La Fayette Township, where he is noticed further. 
In the fall of 1826, Enoch Glassco and his sons, Kimball, Madison and Enoch 
Glassco, Jr., came from Kentucky and settled just north of the present city of 
Charleston. They are said to have been almost as tall as the giant oaks of 
their native State — not one of them but stood more than six feet in his stock- 
ings. Enoch Glassco, Jr., is still living and resides in Charleston ; Kimball 
lives in Tuscola, and Madison died some three years ago. A daughter of the 
elder Glassco married James Y. Brown, who came to the settlement soon after. 
Mrs. Permelia Gobin was also a daughter of Glassco. In 1827, the Parkers 
came to this neighborhood and settled on what is now Anderson's Addition to 
the city of Charleston. They were of the family of Parkers mentioned in the 
general county history as settling, originally, Parker's Prairie. Benjamin 
Parker was one of the most noted, perhaps, of those who settled in this town- 
ship. He was a son of old " High" Johnny Parker, as he ivas called, the old 
"hard-shell" Baptist preacher. It is told of him (old " High" Johnny) that, 
one Sunday, after he had closed his sermon, he gave out an appointment " to 
preach at that place, that day four weeks, if it was not a good day for bee- 
hunting." He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and, as a reward for his 
services, received a pension under the act of Congress of 1832. The following 
certificate appears on the early records of the County Commissioners' Court :' 

Statk OF Illinois, i . ^ looo 

r, n ss., A. D. 1832 : 

COLE.S COINTY, I ' 

On Ihe ISth day of October, personally appeared in open Court before Isaac Lewis and 
James S. Martin, County Commissioners for the county of Coles, now sitting and constituting 
said Court for said county and State aforesaid, .lohn Parker, a resident of the United Stales of 
America, in the county of Coles and State of Illinois, aged seventy-four years, who, being first 
duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain 
the benefit of the act of Congress passed .lune 7, 18.32: That lie entered the service of the 
United Stales, under Ihe following-named officers, and served as herein stated ; that he enlisted 
under Capt. Fields, Col. Slaughter commander of the regiment, Gen. Greene's Brigade; 
entered the service of the United States in October, 1777, and left the service in twelve months 
thereafter: that again he entered the United States service under Capt. Calljer, of Col. Alexan- 
der's regiment. That he was drafted in the latter end of 1770, and marched through Winchester, 
V'a., into Pennsylvania, and was stationed on a creek called Ten-Mile Creek, in Pennsylvania; 
was in no engagements, and that he has no documenlary evidence. That he remained twelve 
months each term of service, making two whole years. That he received a discharge from Capt. 
CiiUier, and that it is now lost. That he was born September 5, 1758, in the State of Mary- 
laud, Baltimore County; that the only record of his age is taken from his father's Bible, now 
in his possession: that he lived in Culpeper County, Va., when called into service; that 
he lived in the State of Georgia seventeen years ; thence to Tennessee, Hickman County ; thence 
to the Territory of Illinois, in the year 1815, in which State he now resides, and in the county 
of Coles. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension, except the present, and 
he declares that his name is not on the pensionroU of the agency of any Stale. 

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. John Parker. 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 291 

This certificate is attested by GriflSn Tipsoward, who was also a Revolution- 
ary soldier, and the Commissioners add their certificate, that after fullv 
investigating the case, and " putting the interrogations prescribed by the War 
Department, " believe he was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as stated in 
the foregoing declaration. 

There were James, Silas, Nathaniel and Daniel Parker, who were all brothers 
of Benjamin Parker. Daniel Parker was also a Baptist preacher of the hard- 
shell or ironside faith, and mentioned in the history of Edgar County as one of 
the first preachers in that county. He together, with Benjamin and Silas Par- 
ker, finally removed to Texas, where the latter two were killed by the Comanche 
Indians. They had bought a lot of cattle, and were herding them when the 
Comanches are supposed to have come upon them, drove them to their herder's 
shanty and murdered them, as when found their bodies were sticking full of 
arrows. A daughter of one of the Parkers was captured by the Indians, after 
their removal to Texas, and kept for some time in captivity. When released, 
she wrote a narrative, descriptive of her trials and sufferings while among the 
savages, which many of the people still living in this neighborhood have read. 
Old " High " Johnny Parker went to Texas with his son Benjamin. The old 
gentleman was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and as such. Col. Dunbar 
succeeded in getting a pension for him, as a reward for his services in fightiiiu 
for the independence of his country. There are still many descendants of the 
Parkers living, who are among the substantial men of Coles County. 

Charles S. Morton was another of the very early pioneers of Charleston 
Township, and one of the energetic and enterprising men of that early 
day. He was from Fayette County, Ky., within three miles of the city of 
Lexington, the home of Henry Clay. Though he came to a rich county, it 
does not equal that which he left. Fayette County is in the very heart of th« 
blue-grass region, than which no finer land is to be found below the sun, and 
Lexington possesses more wealth (to tlie amount of population), perhaps, than 
any city in the United States. Mr. Morton came to this settlement in the 
spring of 1829, and brought his wife with him to look at the country, thus con- 
sulting her taste and happiness in the selection of a home, as all good men ought 
to do. Three months later, he brought his children to his new home. We have 
said that he was an enterprising man. He kept the first store in Charleston 
Township — brought the goods with him when he came to the country and opened 
them out in a small pole cabin, where he continued business until Charleston 
was laid out, when he moved into the village, and was the first merchant 
here also. He also had the first horse-mill in the township, and his residence 
was the first in the neighborhood, perhaps in the county, that could boast of the 
luxury of a glass window, and we are creditably informed that people came for 
miles to see how a house looked with the modern improvement of a glass window. 
He built a row of pole cabins near where the Charleston post ofiice now stands, 
which were known as the Penitentiary, and these he would let to families mov- 



292 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

ing to the settlement three months free of rent, which time sufficed, if they 
"were industrious, to provide a cabin of their own. A daughter of Mr. Morton 
married Dr. Ferguson, and another J. K. Decker, Esq., and a son, Charles 
H. Morton, lives in Chicago. Capt. Adams thus speaks of him in an address 
delivered by him some time ago: "Mr. Morton traveled down through the 
journey of life among us, bearing an irreproachable reputation for truth and 
integrity, and has left behind him children, grandchildren and great-grandchil- 
dren, all intelligent and prosperous, and scatteredfrom here to Chicago." He 
died in January, 1848. Mrs. Ferguson and Mrs. Decker still can describe very 
vividly how, in their young days, they used to dance on puncheon floors and 
dirt floors and any other kind of floors, and that, too, as often as a fiddler could 
be obtained. As musicians were scarce, whenever one chanced to present him- 
self it was invariably the signal for a dance, which was usually prolonged 

•• All night, till broad daylight," 

when the boys would 

" Go home with the girls in the morning.'' 

Col. A. P. Dunbar is another of the pioneers of Charleston, who came here 
from the " Dark and Bloody Ground." He is a native of Fleming County, 
and came to Illinois in 1828, but returned to Kentucky, where he read law and 
was admitted to the bar, and, in 1831, came back to Coles County and located in 
Charleston, and was the first lawyer to hang out a "shingle" in this city. He 
was elected to the State Legislature in 1836, when Coles County embraceil 
Cumberland and Douglas Counties, and was re-elected in 1844-45, and, at this 
session, had Abraham Lincoln for his deskmate. Ilis father, Alexander Dun- 
bar, was a soldier of 1812 and was with Commodore Perry in the battle on Lake 
Erie. Col. Dunbar's law library was destroyed by fire in 1877, since which 
time he has retired from the practice of law. Among the early settlers of this 
township are Levi, Samuel and James Doty, and John Bates, who settled in the 
southeast part of the town about 1830-31. They came from Crawford County, 
but were originally from Kentucky. Levi and James Doty still live in the 
township, and Samuel moved away years ago. Bates, also, is living yet in the 
town. 

Charleston Township, as well as the entire county, was originally settled 
mostly by Southern people, Kentucky, perhaps, contributing the largest delega- 
tion to the population. In addition to the names already mentioned, we have 
from the old Blue-Grass State, Thomas G. and Dr. W. M. Chambers, Isaac N. 
Craig, Edmund Curd, Alexander Perkins, John Monroe, Levi Ilackett, James 
M. Miller, Richard and Thomas Stoddert, Col. Thomas A. Marshall, Hon. V. 
F. Linder, Dr. Samuel Van Meter and Hon. 0. B. Ficklin, and probably others 
whose names we have failed to obtain. The Chamberses were from Harrison 
County. Thomas came to Illinois in 1838, and settled in Charleston, where he 
still lives. He commenced his business life as clerk in'a dry goods store, and, 
in 1840, embarked in the business for himself, and continued it until 1866, 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 295 

when he established the banking house of T. G. Chambers <& Co. In 1866, he 
became President of the First National Bank, which position he now holds. 
He is a public-spirited and enterprising citizen, and has always manifested a 
lively interest in the Coles County Agricultural Society, together with many 
other enterprises calculated to promote the interests of the city and county. 
He is also President of the Old Settlers' Association. Dr. Chambers gradu- 
ated as a physician in Transylvania University, at Lexington, Ky., in 1833, 
and practiced Iiis proiession in that State until his removal to Coles County, in 
185."). In 1861, he was appointed Brigade Surgeon in the Union army, by 
President Lincoln, and served in the Army of the Cumberland until 1865. He 
has been Pi-esident of the State Medical Society, both of Kentucky and Illi- 
nois. Isaac Craig is a native of Montgomery County, and came to Illinois 
with his father's family in 1828. settling in Clark County. Here he remained 
until 1835, when he came to Coles County, where he has since resided. He 
was one of the prominent farmers of this township, until his retirement from 
active business. He is a stockholder and Director in the Second National 
Bank of Charleston. In the Black Hawk war of 1832, he served in the Sec- 
ond Brigade of Illinois Volunteers, under Gen. M. K. Alexander, of Paris. 
Edmund Curd was born in Jessamine County, and from there removed to 
Hardin County, Ohio, where he remained a few years, and then came to this 
township, arriving here in 1836, and entered into partnership in the saddlery 
business with John R. Jeffries, who had come to tlie place a short time previ- 
oii*. For more than thirty years, he continued in this business. His grand- 
father removed to Kentucky from Virginia at an early day, and settled on the 
Kentucky River where the Southern Railroad now crosses it. His grandfather's 
little family consisted of fifteen children, and from them almost that entire 
neighborhood was peopled. Alexander Perkins went from Kentucky when 
quite young, witii iiis parents, to Marion County, Ind., where he grew to man- 
hood, and removed to Charleston in 1836. He was one of the early brick 
manufacturers in the county. Hon. John Monroe was from Barren County, 
and came to this township in 1833. He read medicine with Dr. George Rogers, 
of Glasgow, Ky., but never practiced the profession. He was an active busi- 
ness man, and accumulated a handsome property. He served a term in the 
State Legislature, and died in Charleston, in 1877. Levi Hacket was from 
Scott County, and settled here in 1835, where he remained until IS'il, when 
he removed to Douglas County. James M. Miller came from Spencer County 
to Charleston in 1838, where he still lives, a prominent merchant. Richard 
and Thomas Stoddert came from Grayson County, and may be numbered 
among the pioneers of Coles. The family consisted of the mother and nine 
cliildren (the father having died before leaving Kentucky), who came at dif- 
ferent times from 1836 to 1838. They are descendants of the old Massachu- 
setts Stodderts. The grandfather, Benjamin Stoddert, was a Major in the 
Continental army in the war of the Revolution, and afterward the second Sec- 



296 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

retary of the United States Navy. Thomas Stoddert settled here in 1836, and 
Richard in 1838. The brothers formed a partnership in a tannery, which, in 
that line, and in other departments of business, was continued for thirty years. 
Richard is a man of considerable wealth, and is a large land-owner. He has 
held several offices, of which County Treasurer and Sheriff are the most im- 
portant. Tliomas, in 1849, drove an ox-team across the plains to the land of 
gold. He still lives in Charleston, and is engaged in farming and merchandis- 
ing. Col. Thomas A. Marshall was born in Frankfort, and is a son of Hon. 
Thomas A. Marshall, for more tiian twenty years a Judge of the Court of 
Appeals of Kentucky. The Marshalls comprise one of the grandest old 
families of Kentucky, which has, perhaps, produced more great men than any 
other family in that proud old commonwealth, so prolific of great men. Col. 
Marshall, after settling in Charleston, resumed the practice of his profession 
(law, in which he had graduated in Kentucky), and turned his attention to 
politics. In 1856, he was associated with Abraham Lincoln. Lyman Trumbull, 
David Davis, John M. Palmer, and others, in the organization of tlie Repub- 
lican party. He served two terms in the State Senate, and was a member of 
the Constitutional Convention of 1<S47. In 1861, he became Colonel of the 
First Illinois Cavalry, and served until the muster-out of his regiment, in the 
fall of 1862. He was an able financier, and one of the first bankers in Coles 
County. Dr. Samuel Van Meter came from Gra3'son County, with his mother's 
family, and settled here about 1827. He read medicine under Dr. Trower, and 
practiced the profession until 1849, when he went overland to California, the 
trip occupying five months. He remained in the Golden State a year and a 
half; then returned to Charleston, and resumed the practice of the iiealing art. 
In 1857, he founded, in Charleston, the Illinois Infirmary, the fame of whicli 
has extended to all parts of the country. Patients came to it from the Pacific 
coast, and even from beyond the Atlantic. His partner, for a time, in this 
famed institution was Dr. H. R. Allen, now of the National Surgical Institute 
at Indianapolis. As an illustration of the popularity of the Illinois Infirmary, 
its receipts for 1868 were $186,000. It continued in successful operation until 
1877, when Dr. Van Meter, worn out with constant care, dosed it and retired 
from active business. Hon. U. F. Linder was from Hardin County, and 
removed to Illinois in 1835, and to Charleston in 1838, where he resided until 
1860, when lie removed to Chicago. He was Attorney General of the State 
under the administration of Gov. Duncan, a man of intelligence and fine orator- 
ical powers. He died June 5, 1876. Hon. 0. B. Ficklin located in Charles- 
ton in 1837. He went to Missouri from Kentucky, with his parents, wiicn 
quite young, and commenced the study of the law with Henry Shiirids, Esq . 
and, in the winter of 1829-30, entered the oflSce of Robert Farris, of St. Louis, 
In 1830, he was admitted to the bar at Belleville, 111., having been examined 
by Hon. Edward Coles By the advice of Hon. William Wilson, he located at 
Mount Carmel, 111., wliere he resided until 1837, when he removed to Charles- 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 297 

ton, as noted above. In the Black Hawk war, he enlisted in Capt. Elias 
Jurdin's company, and, upon the organization of the army, was appointed 
Quartermaster, and attached to the brigade of Gen. Alexander, of Paris. In 
1834, he was elected to the Lower House of the State Legislature, and by that 
body chosen State's Attorney for the Wabash Circuit. At the election in 
1838, having removed to Coles, he was elected Representative from this county, 
and re-elected in 1842. In 1843, was elected to Congress from the Waba.sh 
District. His colleagues were Robert Smith, John A. McClernand, John 
Wentworth, Joseph P. Hogue, John J. Harding and Stephen A. Douglas. He 
was re-elected to Congress in 1844, in 1846, and again in 1850. In 1856, was 
a member of the Democratic Convention that nominated James Buchanan for 
President, and one of the electors that cast the vote of lUinpis for " Old 
Buck.' He was a member of the National Democratic Convention at Charles- 
ton, S. C, in 1860 ; was present at the disruption of that body, and attended 
the adjourned meeting at Baltimore, when Stephen A. Douglas was nominated. 
In 1864, he was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention at Chicago, 
that nominated for President Gen. George B. McClellan. He was a member 
of the Constitutional Convention in 1869-70, and is at present a member of 
the Legislature from this county. 

Among the substantial citizens given to Charleston Township by the " Old 
Dominion " — the venerable mother of States — may be numbered Albert 
Compton, Isaiah II. Johnston, R. M. Coon, Dr. Thomas B. Trower, Nathan 
Ellington, Jonathan Binder, the Cossells, William Frost, Leander Gillingwatei-, 
and perhaps others. Albert Compton came from Fairfax County, and, in 
1838, settled in Charleston Township. He was a shoemaker, and worked at 
that trade for a number of years after coming to this neighborhood. He has 
retired from active business life, and, living in the city of Cliarloston, he enjoys 
in his old age a well-earned competence. Isaiah H. Johnston is almost a 
native of Coles County, having been here since he was three years old. His 
father came from Russell County, Va., in 1830, and settled in what is now 
Pleasant Grove Township, in the history of which he is noticed among the 
early settlers. After the death of his father, he continued on the farm until 
he was twenty-seven years of age, when he opened a store in the neighborhood. 
In 1857, he removed to Mattoon, and in that city, continued the mercantile 
business until I860, when he was elected Sheriff of the county. When his 
term of oflSce expired, he resumed merchandising, and finally, in company with 
T. A. Marshall and John W. True, established the banking house of T. A. 
Marshall & Co., which, in 1871, became the Second National Bank of Charles- 
ton. In 1873, he became its President, an office he still holds. In 1869, he 
built an extensive porkhouse, and, in 1871, together with John B. Hill and 
Thomas Stoddert, erected the Charleston Pork-Packing House, which receives 
further notice in another chapter. R. M. Coon cannot be termed an old set- 
tler of this township or of the county, but his extraordinary experience of the 



298 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

early times will be of some interest in these pages. At the age of twenty-one 
years, he entered the employ of a stock-drover. There were no railroads 
then, and stock-trains, but the usual custom, or, rather, the invariable custom, 
was to drive all stock to market. In this line of business he drove stock from 
Ohio and Kentucky to Virginia, and to North and South Carolina, making 
thirteen trips in this capacity across the Alleghany Mountains. He came to 
Charleston in 1840, and about twenty years ago, engaged in gardening. He 
has set out eight different orciiards, and has eaten fruit from the last one 
planted. Dr. Thomas B. Trower came to Illinois in 1830, and located in Shel- 
byville. He came from Albemarle County, and after practicing his profes- 
sion in Shelbyville for six years, removed to Charleston, where he still 
lives. He has held many high positions in the medical fraternity, in all of 
which he has discharged his duty with satisfaction to those interested. Not 
only is he a fine physician, but an excellent business man, an able financier and 
a statesman. He was at one time President of the Moultrie County Bank, at 
Sullivan, and Vice President of the First National Bank of "Charleston. 
While a resident of Shelbyville, he served three terms in the State Legislature, 
and was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1847. Jonathan Lin- 
der came to Coles County with his father's family previous to 1830, making 
the journey in wagons, and settled in this township. Some years later, he 
revisited his native State (West Virginia), making the trip both ways on horse- 
back, a distance (the round trip) of over one thousand miles. He died in 
1877, leaving one son, Jacob Linder. who lives on the old homestead. In 
1829, Michael Cossell, Jr., came to the township, and the next year his father, 
Michael Cossell, Sr., and two other sons, Isaac and Solomon, moved in. Isaac 
and Solomon are both living, the latter in Charleston Township and the former 
in Ashmore. The elder Cossell and his son Michael are dead. Nathan Elling- 
ton was one of the early settlers here. He was an early Justice of the Peace, 
an early school-teacher of Charleston and a man of most excellent character. 
His tragic death was deplored by all good men. He was the first County 
Clerk of Coles County, and filled the oflice to the satisfaction of the people. 
William Frost and Leander Gillingwater settled in Charleston Township about 
the same time, and were both Virginians. They came to the settlement about 
1830-31, and both died here, Frost but a few years ago, and Gillingwater a few 
years after he came to the country. 

From the Hoosier State, Charleston Township has received some good mate- 
rial. Jacob K. Decker, James Skidmore and William Linder came from 
Indiana. Mr. Decker is a native of Knox County, and settled in Charleston 
Township in 1836. His parents were natives of Virginia, and came to Knox 
County in 1810, and were living in Fort Knox, on the Wabash, at the time the 
l)attle of Tippecanoe was fought. Mr. Decker married a daughter of the pio- 
neer Charles Morton, mentioned in the beginning of this chapter, and as a 
farmer and merchant has laid up a competence for old age. Mr. Skidmore 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 299 

came from Owen County (Ind.) with his parents in 1833. They first settled in 
Morgan Township, but remained only a few years, when they returned to 
Indiana. After the death of his father, Mr. Skidmore came back to Illinois, 
then went to Missouri, and finally returned to Illinois and settled in Charles- 
ton, where he still lives. William Linder came here in 1835, arid died in 1843. 
He has a son, G. W. Linder, still living in the township. 

From Tennessee, the land of cotton, the township has drawn some excellent 
citizens. John Jeffries, William Collom, James Y. Brown, Isaac Lewis and 
Hiram Steepleton, came froin Tennessee. Jeifries came to Crawford County 
with his parents when but a small boy. In 1835, he removed to Coles County 
and settled in Charleston, where he engaged in the saddlery and harness busi- 
ness, which he continued until November 5, 1860, the date of his death. He 
served one term as Sherift" of Coles County, was an enterprising citizen, a good 
business man, and accumulated a handsome property. James A. Mitchell and 
William Collom were from Washington County. The latter came to Illinois 
in 1829, and stopped first in Edgar County, and, in 1831, removed to Chai'les- 
ton. He built and kept the first tavern, a log cabin of one room, in the city 
of Charleston. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and fought under Gen. 
Jackson against the Creek Indians ; also participated in the battle of the Horse- 
Shoe. He died August 8, 1851. Mitchell settled in Charleston in 1830, and 
was quite a prominent man in the neighborhood. He died many years ago, 
but has a son still living in Charleston. James Y. Brown settled in Charleston 
Township in 1827, and remained a resident of it until his death. Lewis 
and Steepleton settled in the town in 1827, and Steejileton died here ; Lewis 
moved to the north part of the State, where he was living the last known of him. 

Dr. Aaron Ferguson was a native of North Carolina, and in early childhood 
came with his parents to Bloomington, Ind. After attaining his majority, he 
read medicine with Dr. Maxwell, and graduated in the profession at Transyl- 
vania University, Lexington, Ky., and, in 1830, located in Charleston. His 
wife was a daughter of Charles Morton, mentioned as one of the early settlers 
of this township. Dr. Ferguson was a close student, somewhat retiring in his 
nature, never seeking public office. He died in 187G. Charles R. Briggs 
came from Washington County, N. Y., to this township in 1839, and, after 
farming one year, located in the city of Chai'leston. He has made painting 
of fine stock a specialty, a profession in which he excels, as hundreds of speci- 
mens of his genius to be found in the city and county testify. He opened the 
first livery-stable in Charleston with one horse in it to begin with, and so 
increased his trade that at one time he had in his stable forty-two horses. T. 
J. Marsh came from Baltimore and settled first in what is now Morgan Town- 
ship in 1836. His first residence in the wild West was a cabin built of rails, 
ten feet square, in which he lived with his entire family for three months, when 
they removed to Charleston. He was a carpenter and builder, and erected the 
first iron-front store in Charleston. Many other monuments of his enterprise 



300 HISTORY OF COLES OOUNTV. 

are to be found in the city. George Birch, whose father is noticed among the 
pioneers of Ashmore Township, is a native of England, and came to America 
witli his parents in 1833. After spending a few years in Pennsylvania, they 
removed to Illinois and settled in Ashmore Township, as above. He has hauled 
wheat to Chicago in the early times for 62| cents a bushel, and driven hogs to 
Clinton, Ind., for $1.25 per hundred pounds net. He has for a year or two, 
been a resident of Charleston Township, and by close economy has amassed 
considerable property. Eli Wiley, a lawyer of Charleston, came to Illinois 
with his parents in 1826, and, after spending several years in Edgar and Clark 
Counties, removed to Charleston in 1835, where he still lives. 

The Eastins, mentioned in the county history as first settling in Kickapoo, 
as it was then called, were Charles Eastin and three sons, Van, John M. and 
Harman. The elder Eastiu, after a few yeai's, moved into Charleston Town- 
ship, and, after several other removals to difl'erent sections and neighborhoods, 
finally died in Charleston. John M. Eastin located in this township in an 
early day (about 1830) and lived for awhile with Charles Morton. He resides 
at present in Charleston. Harman Eastin went to the Mexican war and was 
killed. He married Miss Lavina Cox, when this county was included in Clark, 
and went to Darwin for his marriage license. The Eastins were originally 
from Kentucky, but had lived foV a number of years in Indiana, before 
coming to Illinois. They left Lexington, Ind., in February of 1830, in 
wagons, and were nineteen days on the road. To add to the severity and discom- 
forts of the trip, there was quite a snow, which continued on the ground during 
their journey. Dr. John Carrico was a native of Meade County, Ky., and came 
here about 1830-31, and was the first physician in Charleston Township. He 
was also the first Representative from this county in the Legislature of the 
State, and died soon after his term of service expired. Hon. James T. Cun- 
ningham, another Kentuckian, came to Coles County in 1830, and was one of 
the active and energetic men of the times. He served in the Legislature dur- 
ing the sessi(ms of 1836-37, and was the choice of his party for Congress in 
the campaign of 1860. Dr. Byrd Monroe, also a Kentuckian, came here in 
1833, and was a man of prominence. In 1838, he was elected to the State 
Senate, an office he filled very acceptably to the people he represented. Isaac 
Odell was among the early settlers in this township, but had first settled in 
Pleasant Grove, where he is mentioned among the pioneers of that neighbor- 
hood. A son of his is said to have been the first birth in Charleston Township. 

Col. II. R. Norfolk came to Charleston Township in 1833. He was 
born in Maryland, but mostly raised by an uncle in Cincinnati, Ohio, and mar- 
ried his wife in Natchez, Miss. She was a native of New York, and is still living. 
Col. Norfolk died in December, 1865. He was the second merchant in Charles- 
ton. Reuben Canterberry came from near Lexington, Ky., and settled in 
Charleston, in the fall of 1832. He died here many years ago, and his widow 
married again and moved out of the county. William Martin, I. Lyman an<l 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 301 

Gideon S. Bailey were early settlers, but of them not much could be obtained. 
Bailey married the widow of James P. Jones, and moved away from the town- 
ship. Robert Lightfoot came from Kentucky, and settled in the town in 1836, 
and was an honest, upright man in the community. He died some three or four 
years ago. 

John Veach, the father of Jesse Veach, a well-known citizen of this town- 
ship, and a soldier of the war of 1812, settled here in 1828. He bought a 
claim of James Riley, who had settled here a year or two before. Riley was 
from Crawford County, and removed to Texas about 1S33-34. Mr. Veaeh came 
from Crawford County, but was born in Maryland, had been a resident of Ken- 
tucky in the early days, and removed to Crawford County in 1814, when the 
people, for the sake of protection, were compelled to live in forts. He was some- 
time a resident of old Fort La Motte. After two years' residence in this town- 
ship, he removed into La Fayette, where he is noticed in the early settlement of 
that town. Jesse Veach, one of the honored citizens of Charleston Township, 
settled here in 1831, but his acquaintance with this section extends back to 
1825. In that year, he " moved '" a family from Crawford County to this 
township — Mr. Bates, who is mentioned as the first settler in this neighborhood. 
At the time of his first visit here, in 182.3, there was not a family living on this 
side of the Embarrass River, the whole country around the present beautiful 
little city of Charleston was a wilderness untrodden by the white men. He is 
still living, a hale old gentleman for one of his years, and with an excellent 
memory of the early days and hai'dships of this country. H. Gregg settled 
here in 1827, but remained in the neighborhood but a short time, when he 
removed to Edgar County. 

This concludes the early settlement of the township, and a history of the old 
settlers, so far as we have been able to learn their names. Possibly, many names 
have been omitted that deserve special mention, but with more than half a cent- 
ury between "then and now," and many of the early settlers "gone home,"' 
and the memories of those still remaining clouded by age, renders it impossible 
to get a history of every one. This must be our excuse for any omissions that 
have been made. 

MILLS, STORES AND OTHKR IMPROVEMENTS. 

The first mill in Charleston Township was a small horae-mill erected by 
Charles Morton, soon after his settlement in the neighborhood. After its erec- 
tion, it was patronized extensively by the people in the vicinity in preference to 
going to the mills on the Embarrass River. At this little corn-cracking estab- 
lishment the pioneers used to congregate, and while waiting their " turn," would 
amuse themselves playing marbles, running foot-races, jumping, pitching quoits 
and other innocent amusements ; in cold weather they would parch corn in the 
ashes. But with the building of other mills of greater capacity, and of water 
and steam power, horse-mills became obsolete, and, at the present date, it is prob- 



302 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

able that at least one-half of the population of Coles County never saw a horse- 
mill. After the laying-out of Charleston, Morton moved his mill in the village, 
where it figured as the first in the village as it had in the township. 

The first store in the town was opened by Charles Morton the same year of 
his settlement. He brought a stock of goods with him when he moved here 
from Kentucky, and as soon as he could erect a pole cabin to shelter his family, 
he opened out his goods in one room of it. And when Charleston sprang into 
existence, he moved his store to town, where, like his horse-mill, it became the 
first store in the village. This mercantile eff'ort of Morton's was perhaps the 
only one in the township outside of Charleston, from the first settlement to the 
present time. As the village was laid out so soon after settlements were made 
in the township, there was little necessity for stores outside of the village. And 
hence the mercantile trade centered in it in an early day. 

The first road through Charleston Township other than the pioneer's wagon 
trails, was the State road from Shelbyville to Paris. It was surveyed and 
located by John Flemming, Thomas Sconce and Thomas Rhodes, according to 
the following act of the Legislature, approved January 28, 1831 : " Section 1. 
Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the Gen- 
eral Assembly, That John Flemming, of Shelby County, Thomas Sconce of 
Coles County and Thomas Rhodes, of Edgar County, be, and they are hereby, 
appointed Commissioners to view, survey, mark and locate a road from Shelby- 
ville, in Shelby County, to the seat of justice in Coles County, and from thence 
to Paris, in Edgar County, to be located on the nearest and best route, doing 
as little damage to private property as the public good will permit. 

" Sec. 2. The said Commissioners, or a majority of them, shall meet at Shel- 
byville on or before the 15th day of October next, and after being duly sworn 
by some Justice of the Peace of said county of Shelby, faithfully to view and 
locate said road, without partiality, favor or affection, shall immediately there- 
after proceed to discharge the duties required of them by this act, placing in 
the prairie, through which the same shall pass, stakes of a reasonable size of 
durable timber. 

" Sec. 3. As soon as practicable after said road is located, said Commission- 
ers, or a majority of them, shall make out a report, accompanied by a map or 
plat of said road, denoting the courses and distances from point to point, with 
such other remarks as they, or a majority of them, may deem necessary and 
proper, and transmit the same to the Secretary of State. And they, or a ma- 
jority of them, shall make a map or plat of so much of said road as lies within 
the respective counties and transmit it to the Clerk of the County Commission- 
ers of the respective counties through which the same may pass, which shall be 
filed and preserved in the ofl^co of said court. 

" Sec. 4. When said road shall be located, it shall be to all intents ami ])ur- 
poses, a State road, four poles wide, and shall be opened and kept in repair as 
other roads are in this State. 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 303 

" Sec. 5. The County Commissioners' Courts of each county through which the 
said road may pass, are hereby authorized and required to allow said Commis- 
sioners one dollar and fifty cents per day for the time necessarily employed in 
locating the said road in each of their respective counties ; Provided, that noth- 
ing herein contained shall be so construed as to create any liability on the part 
of this State to pay said Commissioners for their services, rendered under this 
act. This act to be in force from and after its passage." 

Before the laying-out of this road, the people meandered over the prairies 
and through the openings in the timber, wherever they could get through best 
and easiest. Often, when they went to mill, they would do as the Rev. Peter 
Cartwright did in the Astor House when they put him in the fifth story. He 
went to the office and asked for a hatchet. When asked what he wanted with 
a hatchet, replied, to blaze his way so that he could go to and from his room 
without getting lost. So, would the people take their hatchets with them to 
mill, and blaze the trees so they could find their way back home. The same 
session of the Legislature at which the foregoing act was passed, another was 
passed requiring every able-bodied male citizen, under fifty years of age and 
over twenty-one. to perform three days' labor on the public highways, under the 
superintendence of the Supervisor of the district. An interesting feature of 
this act was, that when the labor provided in the act (three days of each able- 
bodied, etc.) was insufficient, the Supervisor might call on " every taxable male 
inhabitant " in the district to perform labor on the road at the rate of one day 
for " every $100 worth of real and personal property he may possess in the 
county." The township, at the present day, is well supplied with roads and 
bridges; of the latter, however, there are a few eligibb sites still left, where 
they might be located with advantage to the people. 

One of the early industries of the township was a tan-yard, upon which, or 
in which, or at which, was manufactured the material for the understanding of 
the pioneer inhabitants. Tliis primitive institution, now long obsolete, was 
opened by David Eastin, and the spot whereon it was located is now inside of 
the corporation of the city of Charleston. It finally became the property of 
Richard and Thomas Stoddert, who operated it until the people became too 
proud or too enlightened to wear home-made shoes, when they, like Othello, 
found their occupation (in that line) gone, and the establishment was closed. 
Another useful industry of those days were carding machines. John Kennedy 
built one in this township about 1830-31, which carded the wool of the settlers 
(or that of their sheep, rather) into rolls, when they were spun and woven into 
cloth, and manufactured into clothing by the industrious ladies. But these, 
then useful establishments, like the tanyards, have "gone where the woodbine 
twineth." Owen and Harman were the first blacksmiths, and sharpened the 
old Gary and barshare plows for the early farmers. These smiths were " mighty 
men," with " large and sinewy hands " and " muscles like iron bands," and left 
their imprint upon many of these rude old implements of the early husbandmen. 



•304 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

The first orchard in the township was set out by Benjamin Parker about 
1830. Before the bearing of this and other orchards, set out soon after, the 
people had to content themselves with wild crab-apples and such other fruits as 
grew in the country. Strawberries, we are informed, grew wild in great abun- 
dance, and of an excellent quality. 

EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUa. 

The first schoolhouse in the township was built near what is called the 
Decker Springs, about a mile north of the city of Charleston. It was the type 
of the pioneer schoolhouse, which has already been described in these pages, 
and was built in 1828. John McCombs taught the first school in this humble 
temple of learning. A Mr. Collom, brother of William Collom, who built the 
first house and kept the first tavern in Charleston, was another of the early 
school teachers of this township. It would be an interesting history to trace 
the schools of the town from this puny commencement to their present state of 
perfection, but we have not the space to do so, and as we shall allude to the sub- 
ject again in the chapter devoted to the city of Charleston, we will pass on now 
with the remark, that Charleston Township is laid off in convenient districts, 
all of them having comfortable school-buildings, wherein schools are maintained 
from six to nine months during the year. None but competent teachers are 
employed, and hence the schools flourish accordingly. 

The first preaching in the neighborhood was by the Parkers, as noticed in 
the general history, several of the family being preachers of the '' Hardshell " 
persuasion. Rev. Mr. Newport was another of the early divines of that faith. 
The Methodists and Presbyterians also were early in the field, and established 
classes and societies, which have continued down to the present day. But as the 
first church in the township was erected in Charleston, the church history will 
be given under that head. 

The first white child born in Charleston Township is supposed to have been 
(jreorge W. Odell, a son of Isaac Odell, in 1830. A son of David Eastin was 
born in 1832, which was the next birth recorded in the neighborhood. The 
first wedding remembered was Dr. Ferguson and a daughter of Charles Mor- 
ton. We are unable to give a description of the ceremonies attending this early 
marriage in the wilderness, the wedding presents, appearance of the bride, etc., 
but as she is still living, our young lady readers, who always take an interest 
in such matters, can probably learn all the particulars of her. The first death is 
not remembered, but the "well-peopled " grave-yards tell that death has been 
here. 

Charleston Township lies a little southeast of the center of the county, and 
is bounded on the north by Hickory Township, on the west by La Fayette, on 
the south by Pleasant Grove and on tlie east by the Embarrass River. It is 
described as Township 12 north, Range 9 east of the third principal meridian, 
and contains a few sections more than a regular Congressional township. The 



HISTORY OF COLES COUllTV. -805 

surface is generally level, with slight undulations, except along the Embarrass, 
where it is rather broken and hi'ly. The town is pretty well watered and 
drained by the small streams flowing to the Embarrass River, among which 
we may note Kickapoo, Riley and Cossell Creeks, and with the Embarrass 
on its eastern boundary, it lacks neither drainage nor irrigation. The Indian- 
apolis k St. Louis Railroad crosses from east to west through the north 
part of the town, thus aflbrding excellent means of shipping the great amount 
of grain and stock annually produced. The history of the above railroad 
has been so fully given in the general county history that we shall not 
repeat it here, but refer the reader to that part of this work. 

POLITICS AND PATRIOTISM. 

The township and city of Charleston, taken together, are Democratic in 
politics by a small majority. Being pretty evenly divided in point of numbers, 
usually calls forth from both sides considerable wire-working and "log-rolling" 
whenever an important election is pending, and neither party leaves a stone 
unturned to accomplish success ; hence, exciting episodes sometimes take place 
between them and humorous stories are told on each side. The following is 
narrated at the expense of the Republicans, and is supposed to have occurred 
about the time of the organization of that party in the State. We do not 
vouch for its truth, but give it, subject to any criticism or correction it may 
deserve. A little party was formed, consisting of seventeen individuals, to go 
into one of the rural towns to organize the sturdy yeomanry, and they 
contributed $1 apiece for the purpose of providing a lunch for the occa- 
sion, as they contemplated being out all day. One of the number was ap- 
pointed to procure the lunch, and well knowing, perhaps, the appetites of 
the party, he invested $16, of the $17 appropriated, in whisky and $1 in 
crackers. They proceeded on their mission, and, as they performed their very 
'•arduous labors," had frei|uent recourse to the bottles of the "all-healing bal- 
sam of life and comfort." Toward evening, one of the party came to the 
" butler," with a hungry, thirsty look upon his alabaster countenance, and 
wanted " some more that 'ere liquor. ' He was informed that it was nearly out, 
and he would have to cut down his potations, to some extent, and take crackers 
instead. After deliberating over the matter a moment, he looked up and 
remarked, " Wh-what in the did ye (hie) git so many crackers for '!" 

The following illustrates the other side pretty well : " Uncle Billy Hughs," 
as everybody called him, was a blood-red Democrat. He lived in Pleasant 
Grove Township, and, every time he came to Charleston, was sure to get drunk, 
on the principle that that was one of the first duties of a Democrat. One day, 
he came to town in his wagon, with two large, fine horses harnessed to it, 
and, as usual, got '• tight as a tick ; " and, as he started for home, his horses 
ran away, threw him out of the wagon, in the outskirts of the town, and knocked 
the old fellow senseless. Several persons, both male and female, saw the acci- 



306 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

(lent, and ran to his assistance and found him apparently dead. The ladies set 
up a lamentation, and all expressed the strongest pity ; for the old man was 
much beloved, and, aside from his love of drink, had few faults. In the mean 
time, a physician arrived, felt his pulse, and observed that he was not dead, but 
would be all right soon. Finally, his shoulders moved, his lips quivered, and, 
with a gasp, he opened his eyes and looked around. Feebly he inquired where 
he was, when some one volunteered the information that his team had run off 
and thrown him out of his wagon. " Uncle Billy" raised up on his elbow and 

looked around for a moment, and then observed : " Well, by , I am (hie) 

the best Democrat (hie) in Coles County, anyhow I " 

But those times are past, and we will observe, right here, that there is not a 
licensed saloon in Charleston Township nor city, a fact that is highly creditable 
to their citizens. 

In the late war, Charleston bore no inconsiderable part. Many of Jier citi- 
zens left their homes, kindred and all that was dear to the heart, and went forth 
ta battle for the Union that they loved better than all things else. Several 
from this township laid down their lives in its defense, and their bones lie 
mingled with the dust of the far-off Southern fields where they met the foe. It 
is no reproach to their valor that they fell before a foe as brave as themselves. 
We give the names, herewith, of all now living in the township who served in 
the late war, so far as we have been able to get them : W. E. Robinson entered 
the army, in 1861, as Captain of Company E, Fifty-second Illinois Volun- 
teers. James M. Ashmore entered the army as Captain of Company C, Eighth 
Illinois Volunteers ; wounded at Shiloh. G. M. Mitchell, in June, 1861, as 
Captain of Company C, First Illinois Cavalry — the first three years regiment to 
leave the State; promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of Fifty-fourth Infantry in Feb- 
ruary, 1862, and in October, 1863, promoted to Colonel ; re-enlisted as a veteran 
in 1864, and in the fall of that year was brevetted Brigadier General, H. A. 
Neal, in fall of 1864, enlisted in Company K, First United States Heavy 
Artillery, and served until the close of the war. W. E. Adams, in 1862, as 
Captain of Company I, One Hundred and Twenty-third Illinois Volunteers, 
and served to the close of the war. A. M. Peterson enlisted in Company K, 
Twenty-first (Grant's old regiment) Illinois Volunteers, July, 1861 ; rose to 
the rank of Captain, and resigned, in 1862, on account of ill-health. Isaac Vail 
enlisted August, 1862. in Company E, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry : was Orderly Sergeant, and was with Sherman in the march 
to the sea. Charles Cleary enlisted in Company C, Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry 
( Union) ; promoted to Orderly Sergeant, and then to First Lieutenant, and was 
detailed as Acting Assistant Adjutant General ; was on Col. Crittenden's stafl', 
and served until close of the war. J. A. Connely enlisted, in 1862, as Major of 
the One Hundred and Twenty-third Illinois Volunteers ; served until close of 
the war, two years of the time as Inspector General of the Fourteenth Army 
Corps, and was on the " march to the sea." Joseph F. Goar enlisted, in 1862, 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 307 

in Company D, One Hundred and Twenty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, 
and served until close of the war. Eli Huron enlisted in Company A, Fifty- 
third Indiana Volunteers ; promoted to Orderly Sergeant, and lost right arm 
in the second battle of Corinth. E. E. Clark enlisted in Company E, Seventy- 
third Ohio Volunteers, and served about two years ; and also in Adjutant Gen- 
eral's office. Thomas A. Marshall entered the army as Colonel of First Illinois 
Cavalry, and served until the muster-out of the regiment. T. E. Tillotson 
enlisted in Company H, Fourth' Ohio Volunteers, in April, 1861 ; assisted in 
raising a company, and was appointed Orderly Sergeant ; commissioned Sec- 
ond Lieutenant before leaving the State ; was promoted to First Lieutenant in 
1862, and to Captain in 1864 ; after the battle of Peach-Tree Creek, was 
brevetted Lieutenant Colonel by President Lincoln for meritorious service, and, 
after the close of the war, was brevetted Major by President Johnson. John H. 
Clark enlisted in Company E, Fourteenth Illinois Volunteers, and promoted to 
Orderly Sergeant. C. Swarts enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Six- 
teenth Indiana Volunteers, in the summer of 1868. Adam Metzler enlisted, in 
the fall of 1862, in the One Hundred and Eighty-seventh Ohio Volunteers, 
served nine months, and then enlisted in the regular army (Fourth United 
States Cavalry), and served three years on the frontier. R. P. Hackett enlisted 
in Company K, One Hundred and Twenty- third Illinois Volunteers, and served 
three years ; severely wounded at Milton, Tenn., and still carries the ball. 
Christian Schytt enlisted in Company E, Thirty-second Illinois Volunteers. 
J. W. Evans, enlisted in Company K, First Tennessee (Union) Volunteers. 
Robert L. Reat, Company A, Seventy-eighth Indiana Volunteers. William 
A. Jeffries, Company C, Eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, three-months 
men ; re-enlisted in Si.xty-thii-d Infantry, and was chosen Second Lieutenant 
of Company K. Dr. W. M. Chambers, appointed Brigade Surgeon by Presi- 
dent Lincoln in 1861, and served until 1865. Brevetted Lieutenant Colonel, 
and then Colonel, for meritorious services. As will be seen from the above list, 
many of the men there mentioned enlisted in other States, but are now resi- 
dents of Charleston (town and city) ; while many of those living here at the 
time of enlistment, having removed to other sections, we have been unable to 
learn their names. 

BLOODED STOCK. 

In the general county history we noted the fact that considerable attention 
was being paid to the breeding of blooded stock in the county, and mentioned 
the names of several parties who are engaged in improving different breeds of 
animals, viz. : W. A. Whittemore, J. W. Wright, H. M. Ashmore and I. U. 
Gibbs engaged in breeding fine horses ; William Miller, S. C. Ashmore, 
Ambrose Edwards, Isaac Flenner, R. L. Reat and R. S. Hodgen, fine cattle ; 
and Shepard & Alexander, Poland-China hogs. The fine herds of this excel- 
lent stock of hogs, owned by Messrs. Shepard & Alexander, deserve more than 
a mere passing notice. In a pamphlet which they have published, descriptive 



308 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

of the Poland-China stock, for gratuitous distribution among their patrons, we 
make some extracts, which will be found of interest to hog- raisers generally. 
In this pamphlet, they take up the history of the hog, almost from the time 
Noah let him out of the Ark, and follow it in a concise manner to its " culmi- 
nation of perfection " in the Poland-China stock. Speaking of this fine breed of 
hogs, they say : " The Poland-China is a breed established in the Miami Val- 
ley, as early as the year 1835. The direct and careful history of some of the 
original breeds from which this splendid animal was derived, cannot be given as 
fully and as particularly as its present importance and fast-growing popularity 
demand. As early as 1820, the farmers of Ohio obtained some hogs of an 
improved breed known as the Poland, and crossed upon the common stock of the 
country, and upon this question of the Poland hog several bitter controversies 
have arisen ; but that such a breed of hogs existed at that day, and long since, 
we have not the slightest doubt. * * * * f^'j^g Poland hog 
used by these farmers and stock-raisers is described as a large lop-eared, dark 
colored hog, attaining great weight, but slow in maturing. This cross produced 
by the Poland was again crossed by the Byfield, a breed originating in New 
England ; but being of mixed breed itself, produced but little change: and not 
satisfying their standard of a practical hog, they in a few years introduced the 
big spotted China, imported from England. This last was an English breed, 
the result of crosses with the original Chinese. The infusion of the blood of 
this spotted China produced very marked and important changes in this 
famous hog, decreasing the size and increasing the fattening qualities, refining 
the bone and perfecting the symmetry of form, etc." By other crosses, as 
given in this history, with the Wobum, Irish Graziers and Berkshires, has 
resulted the formation of a breed of hogs of the most desirable qualities, and 
since 1834-35, no new blood has been infused into this breed of Poland-China. 
Messrs. Shepard & Alexander conclude their history of this famous breed as 
follows : -' Thoy have been fully tested in all the various climates of the United 
States, and, under all circumstances, have proved themselves hardy, prolific, free 
from disease, with great action and constitutional vigor, and always bring the 
highest price sis porkers in the markets. They can be made to weigh, at ten 
months, 350 to 400 pounds ; at eighteen months, from 500 to 940 pounds. 
The best average fat hogs made in the United States have been of this breed. 
One lot of forty head, raised by one man, averaged at twenty-two months, t)13 
pounds. In color, they are spotted black and white, with occasionally a sandy 
tinge, varying, however, according to the peculiar fancy of the breeder, from 
almost white to nearly black." 

Shepard k Alexander, well-known citizens of this township have made a 
specialty for some years of the Poland-China hog, and their famous herds are 
extensively and favorably known all over the country. They claim that the 
Poland China is the hog for the farmer, combining more excellence than any 
other breed of swine, having great size, good style, docility, fertility, early 



HISTORV OF COLES COUNTY. 309 

maturity, aptitude for taking on flesh, and great constitutional vigor. As show- 
ing that they will fatten at any age, they give the following weights of two lots 
of pigs fattened at eleven months old. Thirty head averaged 381' pounds, 
thirty head 384 pounds, and an extra lot of ten, at ten months old, averaged 
410 pounds. In conclusion of their pamphlet, they offer the following sensi- 
ble advice to farmers : "Pork-raising at the West stands pre-eminent as a 
branch of stock-raising, and there is no better, more profitable or easier wav 
for a farmer to make his grain than by feeding it into a good breed of hogs, 
and it is time that the f;irmers of the West and South gave this branch of 
stock-raising the attention that its fost-growing importance demands." 

As stated in the general county history, the county was first divided into 
districts called election precincts, and so remained until townshijt organization 
in 1859-60. This district was known as Charleston Precinct, and under town- 
ship organization became Charleston Township, and was originally named for the 
county-seat, which had been given in honor of Charles Morton, who, as before 
stated, donated twenty acres of land to the county for the purpose of defraying 
the expenses of putting up the necessary public buildings. The first Super- 
visor of Charleston Township, under the new order of things, was Richard 
Stoddert. At the present time, it is represented in the Board of Supervisors 
by E. B. Buck and G. M. Adkins. The Justices of the Peace of the towr- 
ship are Charles Van Derford, J. I. Brown, George Tucker and J. W. Doty. 

Having traced the history of Charleston Township from the period of i.s 
first settlement down to the present time, showing its growth and development, 
we come to notice 

THE CITY OF CHARLESTON. 

Charleston is pleasantly situated on the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad, 
very nearly the center of the county, and 117 miles from Indianapolis, 143 
miles from St. Louis and about the same distance south of Chicago. It is a 
handsome little city of some four thousand inhabitants, and noted for its ener- 
getic business men. its mills and manufactories, and its excellent school-, 
churches, and the general intelligence of its inhabitants. While it claims r.o 
very extensive manufacturing establishments, yet there are several located 
within its limits, which will receive appropriate mention in the proper place. 
It is well supplied with water works, and the pure, clear water of the Embar- 
rass River is thus utilized in providing its people with a bountiful supply of 
the health-giving element. 

Charleston was oi'iginally surveyed by Thomas Sconce, the first Surveyor 
of Coles County, and laid out by Commissioners (William Bowen, of Vermilion 
County ; Jesse Essarey, of Clark, and Joshua Barber, of Crawford) appointed 
by the Legislature for the purpose of establishing the seat of justice of the 
county. The original town embraced, as shown by the plat on file in the Re- 
corder's office, the west half of the southwest quarter of Section No. 11, in 
Township No. 12 north, of Range 9 east. It was resurveyed in June, 1839, 



310 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

by Joseph Fowler, County Surveyor, and in this resurvey is noted the addition 
of Nathaniel Parker, of the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 10, etc. 
Since the first laying-out of Charleston, the records show some fifty additions and 
subdivisions to the original town by different individuals, giving it sufficient area, 
one would suppose, for a much lai-gercity. It was named by the Commissioners 
who located the county seat, in honor of Charles Morton, one of the proprietors of 
the land on which it is situated, and who donated twenty acres of land for 
county purposes. In naming the place, they added the last syllable of Morton's 
last name to his first name, thus forming the word Charleston. 

The first house was built in Charleston by William Collom, who is termed 
the first actual settler in its corporate limits. It was a small log house of one 
room, and in this spacious building he kept the first tavern in the future city of 
Charleston, then an incipient village. Such a diminutive hotel would scarcely 
supply the demand of the wayfaring men of Charleston now. The city is well 
furnished with excellent hotels. The Charleston House, with its genial land- 
lord, Dan Van Sickle, is a model in its way, and is a cheerful home to the 
weary, wayworn traveler. Dan is an old commercial traveler, and, as such, 
has been the guest of half the hotels in Illinois and Indiana, and the experience 
thus obtained is used in the Charleston House to the advantage of his guests. 
The Maples Hotel, situated near the railroad, is less pretentious, but, withal, an 
excellent house. The first brick residence was built by Col. Norfolk, about 
1835-36. James Wiley was the contractor, and superintended its erection. It 
is still standing, and being used as a residence by the widow of Col. Norfolk. 
Charles Morton was the first merchant in the village. As mentioned in the 
history of the township, he brought a stock of goods with him when he moved 
to the country, and opened them out in a cabin where he first settled. After 
the laying out of Charleston, he had reserved a choice " corner lot," in his 
donation to the county, and upon this he erected a storehouse. It was near 
the present post office. He also erected a number of " pole cabins " near his 
storehouse, in the rude style of architecture of that day. They stood all in a 
line, like the " nine little Injuns," and these he was in the habit of " letting " 
to new-comers, three months free of rent, which time was sufficient to build a 
cabin of their own, if they were at all energetic. The second store in Charles- 
ton was kept by Baker & Norfolk, and was opened as soon after the town was 
laid out as the population of the place would justify. 

The first post office was kept by Charles Morton, and was established about 
1830-31. It was called " Coles Court House," and, after the town was laid out 
and christened, the name of the post office was changed to that of Charleston. 
The mail came from Terre Haute, via Paris, and passed on west through Shel- 
byville, Taylorville and Springfield to Quincy. It was carried by a man 
named Moke, who was over six feet high, and rode a very small pony, his feet 
almost toucliing the ground. His weekly trips were hailed as an event of vast 
importance, and everybody gathered at the post office then, just as they do now 





, ^ Iri^iyfju^rlvK 



OAKLAND 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 313 

(except the "small boy," who was not invented then, and who is the grandest 
nuisance to be found about the country post office at mailtime in this fast age), 
eagerly looking for the longed-for letter from absent friends, although they cost 
a quarter then, payable at the office of delivery. Col. G. M. Mitchell is the 
present representative of Uncle Sam in the post office department at Charles- 
ton, and, we may add, that his duties are somewhat heavier than were Mr. 
Morton's, when Moke used to bring the mail once a week on his little pony. 

Owens and Harraan were the first blacksmiths in Charleston, and- are 
noticed elsewhere as the first in the township. David Eastin opened a tan-yard 
soon after the laying-out of the village, which is also noted in the township his- 
tory, as is the carding machine of John Kennedy. Albert Compton and a 
man named Hanks were the first shoemakers, and to them the people wei'e for 
some time indebted for a substantial "understanding." The former is still a 
resident of the city, but long since retired from the shoemaking business. Col. 
Dunbar was the first practicing lawyer, and had the field all to himself for 
awhile. He is still living, but has quit the law. Drs. Carrico and Ferguson 
were the first physicians, and both now sleep in the church-yard. 

Charles Morton had the first mill in the village, which was the horse-mill 
mentioned in the township history as built by Morton, in the vicinity of his 
first settlement. When the village was laid out, he moved it within the corpo- 
ration. The first steam-mill in Charleston was built by Byrd Monroe, which 
ran for several years, and was then burned. He at once rebuilt it, and, after 
several years, having passed into the hands of the Gages, was again burned, 
when they built the large and elegant brick mill near the Depot, at a cost of 
about $40,000. The City Mills were built some two years ago, by Alvey & 
Van Meter, a large, substantial brick edifice, with all the new and im- 
proved machinery. A mill was built in the west part of town, years 
ago, which finally passed into the hands of Ashmore, and was burned some 
time afterward, and has never been rebuilt. Charleston has just cause to be 
proud of h«r mills, for but few cities of her size can boast of two more excellent 
mills than the two mentioned above. 

THE COURT HOUSE. 

The first brick house erected in Charleston was the present Court House, 
which was built some time before Col. Norfolk's residence, mentioned a little 
space ago. As noticed in the general county histoiy, the first Court House in 
Coles County was built in the south part of the town, near where the Christian 
Church now stands, and was a log structure. The present brick Court House 
was built in 1835, by Lcander Munsell, of Edgar County. His agreement 
with the County Commisioners is dated December 4, 1834, and covers nearly 
four pages of the record-book. The original building was the then prevailing 
style of architecture of an old Kentucky tobacco-barn ; was perfectly square 
with the roof, running up from all sides to a point in the center. "A steeple 



314 HISTORY OP COLES COUNTY. 

to extend five feet, with a ball about ten inches in diameter, to be covered with 
gold leaf, and a spear to extend six feet above the ball with a fish or chicken on 
the top." The contract price for the building was $5,000, and, at the next 
March term of the Court, Munsell was to receive " one-half for the labor per- 
formed and material furnished, provided there are sufiicient funds in the treasury 
to do it." The foundation of the house was built of the rock taken from the 
cut through the Embarrass River hills of the grade for the old Terre Haute & 
Altdn, now the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad. This building served the 
county many years as its temple of justice without alteration; but as the people 
increased in wealth and importance, and became proud and high-strung in their 
notions, they were at length seized with an extravagant fit, and had the old 
building renovated and " rejuvenated," until the very rats, that had grown 
gray under its floors, did not know it. The building was enlarged, porticoes 
added and the entire structure modernized generally, so that it now presents a 
very attractive and imposing appearance, and is quite an elegant and commo- 
dious Court House. The court-room is in the second story, is large, airy and 
well furnished, with jury-rooms, consultation-rooms, etc., adjacent, while on the 
first floor are the offices of the County and Circuit Clerks, the County Treasurer 
and Sherifi", and also the Jail. The " square " is filled with young sugar 
maples, well set in blue grass and surrounded by a substantial iron fence. 

Charleston makes no pretensions to a wholesale mercantile trade, but its 
retail business in this line is excellent, and its merchants are live, wide-awake, 
energetic business men, who are well up to the times, with large and complete 
stocks of goods sufiicient to fill all demands. But few cities of its population 
have as good a class of business houses as Charleston, many of them being of a 
style and quality that would look well in more pretentious cities. Our space 
will not admit of the particularization of the diff'erent mercantile houses, and 
we pass with this general compliment to their worth and honesty. » 

The banking business was begun in Charleston as early as 1853. In the 
fall of the year mentioned, T. A. Marshall and others established " The 
Farmers' & Traders' Bank." This bank flourished until 1S57-58, when in 
the great financial crash that swept over the land in those dark and gloomy 
years, it, like hundreds of others, went'down. About 1860-61, Marshall k 
McCrory commenced a private bank, which, with some changes in its name 
and partners, finally became the Second National Bank, and as such is still in 
existence. The President of this bank is Isaiali H. Johnston, and Charles, 
Clary, Cashier. 

The First National Bank of Charleston was developed from the private 
banking firm of- T. G. Chambers & Co. This firm had been doing a general 
banking business since 1806, and, about 1868, together with another private 
banking firm, consolidated and formed the First National Bank, with Thomas 
G. Chambers, President, and William E. McCrory, Cashier, which positions 
both gentlemen still hold. Both the First and Second Nationals are sound, 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 315 

healthy establishments, officered by men who have a long experience in banking 
and who possess the entire confidence of the people and the community at large. 

MANUFACTORIES. 

One of the largest, perhaps the largest, manufacturing establishment in 
Charleston is the Broom-Factory of Traver & Nixon. Although it has been 
in operation but a few years, their business has increased almost beyond 
belief. They manufacture many thousand dozen of brooms annually, which 
are shipped to all parts of the country, but principally south — New Orleans 
being one of the best points, Georgia and Texas next. Three salesmen are 
continually on the road. Their business sums up about $60,000 a year ; 
seventy hands are employed at an expense of $15,000 per year. They culti- 
vate about five hundred acres of broom-corn in addition to what they buy. 
Since the establishment of this factory by these energetic men, the cultiva- 
tion of broom-corn has become an extensive business among the farmers. A 
dozen years ago, there were scarcely so many acres of broomcorn grown in 
the county ; now thousands of acres are annually produced, and the business 
is increasing every year. The firm owns the Charleston elevator and broom- 
corn compress for baling and rebaling broom-corn for shipping, and are 
the only parties in this section owning such a machine. R. A. Traver, the 
senior member of the firm, is the author of " Traver's Broom-corn Cultur- 
ist and Broom-maker's Manual," an interesting work devoted to the raising, 
cutting, curing and preparing broom-corn for market, from which we make a few 
extracts, as being of general interest to our readers. Speaking of the cultiva- 
tion of broom-corn, he says: "At the present time Illinois is the acknowledged 
head-center of broom-corn growing in the United States, its rich and fertile 
prairies being well adapted to its growth and development. Chicago, Cleve- 
land and Philadelphia broom manufacturers say that the finest and best broom- 
corn comes from the section of country bordering the Illinois Central Railroad, 
between Charleston, Coles County, and Champaign City. It appears the soil 
is naturally adapted to it so as to grow a fine article of hurl and brush corn, 
just as some sections of the United States are better adapted to the raising of 
tobacco than others. Chicago has become the acknowledged broom-corn market 
of the United States, and at present controls the market. * * * 

In raising broom-corn, the first thing necessary is good land ; that is, what is 
considered good Indian corn land, and it will always pay to plow the land just 
before the planting, so that the broom-corn can get a start of the weeds. In 
fact, it never ought to be planted on weedy land. The best land for a certain 
crop is a sod, subsoiled. and then there is no trouble with weeds. The land 
should be thoroughly harrowed and in fine condition, and then the seed should 
never be put into the ground until the soil is thoroughly warm, so that it 
will come up soon and keep ahead of the weeds. * * * * 

As soon as the blossom begins to fall oft', then it is time to begin cutting 



316 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

the broom-corn, and the sooner it is cut the better, so^that, when dried, it 
will be a bright pea-green color, as that color commands the highest price 
in the market ; the brush also weighs heavier, and is tougher and wears bet- 
ter when made into brooms. The ditference in price in all of the large markets 
between bright-green and ripe red brush generally runs thus : red, per lb., 2 
cents ; green hurl, per lb., 8 cents — or in about that proportion ; so it will be 
seen that it is of very great importance that it be cut and cured so as to be of a 
bright-green color." A great deal more of valuable information is given in this 
interesting little pamphlet. 

The Charleston Foundry, owned by A. N. Bain, are quite an extensive 
establishment. In 1857, he and his brother, William Bain (now dead), came to 
Charleston and erected a small frame building for a foundry and machine-shop. 
For several years, their receipts were small, and, it wa.s not until 1863 that they 
commenced the manufacture of stoves, which they continued until their popu- 
larity and business increased to a voluminous e.xtent, and they manufactured 
fifty-two different kinds and sizes of stoves. A trade was built up that extended 
from Indianapolis to the Rocky Mountains. House-fronts and ornamental ver- 
anda work was added to their business, and many towns in Illinois show fair 
specimens of this line of work. William Bain died in 1875, since which time 
the business has been owned by A. N. Bain alone. 

The Woolen-Mills of Messrs. Weiss k Frommel. are quite a large institution 
of the kind. It was originally established by Henry Weiss, at whose death 
Guenther Weiss, one of the present proprietors, purchased an interest. His 
partner, Frederick Frommel, first engaged with Henry Weiss as a traveling 
salesman, and, after Mr. Weiss' death, he also purchased an interest in the mills, 
since which time the firm has been Weiss & Frommel. They do a large busi- 
ness in the manufacture of^ woolen goods, and are highly -respected, energetic 
business men of the city. 

The pork-packing establishment of I. H. Johnston is a large concern, and 
in the days gone by did a large business, but for the last year or two has not 
been operated to its full capacity, but during the winter season does a good deal 
in its way. 

Among the early munufacturing establishments of Charleston might be 
mentioned the brickmaking of George Tucker. He was, some years ago, the 
largest brick manufacturer in Coles County, and large building contractor ; has 
built a majority of the brick buildings in Charleston. He is a prominent Mason 
and Odd Fellow, and to him we are indebted for a history of these fraternities. 

There are several other manufactories of less note, such as plow, wagon and 
carriage factories, which do quite a thriving business, but do not manu- 
facture on a large scale. Charleston, we have no doubt, will, in time, become 
quite a manufacturing city. All that is needed is a little capital to develop the 
coal-fields, which lie but a few hundred feet below the surface. Time will do 
the balance. 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 317 



VILLAGE ORGANIZATION. 

Charleston was organized as a village in 1853, and, of the first Board of Vil- 
lage Trustees, Nathan Ellington was President. In 1865, it was incorporated 
as a city, with L. P. Tomlin as the first Mayoj-, and the old Board of Trustees 
acting as Aldermen. The Council and city officers at present are as follows, 
viz.: Hon. W. R. Pattoti, Mayor. Aldermen — R. Alexander, R. A. Traver, 
Harvey Said, E. H. Clark, W. S. Coon, Robert Stewart, H. M. Ashmore and 
James Skidmore. The City Clerk is Andrew Kershaw ; George Steigman, 
Treasurer ; A. C. Ficklin, Attorney ; William Jeflries, Marshal, and W. Good- 
man, Superintendent of Streets. The city has an excellent Fire Department, 
consisting of Engine, Hose Company and Hook and Ladder Company, well- 
organized and equipped. Water Works have been added to the city's con- 
venience, welfare and safety, which, in connection with its splendid Fire Depart- 
ment, have saved the city many thousands of dollars. The Water Works were 
built in 1875, and are of a substantial character. ^The water is brought two 
miles, frbnl the Embarrass River, thus utilizing that beautiful little stream in 
another capacity than mills and navigation. 

The bar of Charleston (not the one where you look upon the wine when it 
is red, for Charleston is a red-ribbon town) stands high, and combines an array 
of legal talent that will compare with any community. Space will not permit 
particular mention of all as they deserve, hence we shall not attempt it. But 
the names of Connely, Cunningham, Ficklin, Wiley, Neal, Peterson, Adams, 
and others will be recognized as men of eminence and ability. 

The medical fraternity, too, is able and deserving of a more particular men- 
tion than our space will allow. It embraces men who stand high in their pro- 
fession, and have held high positions in the medical societies and institutions of 
the community. 

THE CHURCH HISTORY. 

The religious history of Charleston is as old as the town itself. The first 
religious services were held under the auspices of the old Predestinarian Bap- 
tists, who, at one time, were quite numerous in the town and county, but are 
rather scarce at the present day. Once they had a church-building in Charles- 
ton, with a flourishing society and several ministers, among whom were two or 
three of the Parkers and Elder Newport. The organization, we believe, is still 
kept up, but they have no regular preacher, nor regular church services, and 
but few members. 

A society of the Old-School Presbyterians was organized June lo, 1835, by 
Rev. John McDonald and John Montgomery, with thirteen members, as follows, 
viz.: James Lumbrick, Thomas 0. Roberts and wife, Rosina Letner, Adam 
Mitchell and wife, James Mitchell and wife, William Collora and wife, Eugenia 
Campbell, Arthur G. Mitchell and wife, of whom only three are now living, 
viz.: Mrs. Esther Mitchell (widow of James A. Mitchell, afterward married 



318 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTT. 

to James Lumbrick, and again a widow), Mrs. Eliza CoUom and Mrs. Arthur 
Mitchell. The following preachers have administered to the Church since its 
organization, mostly as "stated supply " : Rev. John McDonald, from organ- 
ization to the spring of 1843, with the exception of about one year in 1840-41. 
when Stephen A. Hodgeman preached as stated supply. Rev. H. I. Venable 
supplied the pulpit for about one year in 1844-45, when Rev. Joseph Adams 
was called, and preached from 1846 to 1849. Rev. Robert A. Mitchell was then 
called, and labored as stated supply from 1849 to the spring of 1853. Rev. H. 
I. Venable* was recalled in the spring of 1853, and continued in charge until the 
close of 1855, when Rev. R. A. Mitchell was again called, and labored as stated 
supply from early in 1856 until 1858, when he was installed Pastor, upon the 
completion of the new house of worship. He continued as the Pastor until 
April, 1870, when he resigned the charge, having labored in this Church, alto- 
ofether, for about sixteen years. Rev. R. F. Patterson was then called, and 
commenced his labors in October, 1870, and continued until the close of the 
year 1873, when he resigned on account of the ill-health of his wife. Rev. 
James A. Piper was then called to the charge, and labored one year as stated 
supply, when he was elected and duly installed Pastor, a position he still holds, 
beloved by all, making the seventh minister who has served this Church since 
its organization. 

The first church edifice was commenced about 1842, and finished in 1845 — 
a frame building, costing about $1,000. The second building was commenced 
in 1857 and completed in the summer of 1858, and was dedicated to the service 
of God in August of that year. The dedicatory sermon and prayer was by 
Rev. Dr. Newell, of Paris, 111. It is a brick structure, and cost, originally, 
about $y,000, with an additional cost of $5,000, for improvements, made the 
"memorial vear," In which the two churches — the new and the old — were united, 
thus making the sum total of the cost of building and improvements about 
$14,000. Membership, about two hundred and ten. 

The following persons have acted as ruling Elders of the Church since its 
organization, in the order mentioned, viz.: James A. Mitchell and James Lum- 
brick, elected at organization ; William Collora and Stephen B. Shellady, elected 
October 14, 1837 : James M. Miller and Dr. R. H. Allison, elected April 26. 
1845: George S. Collom and James E. Roberts, elected October 25, 1851; 
John A. Miles, elected in 1853; John McNutt and William Miller, elected 
December 9, 1854; A. Carroll and Richard Roberts, elected February 27, 1864; 
Robert F. McNutt and T. C. Miles, elected October 13, 1866 ; Willliam E. 
Adams and T. C. Miles (the latter re-elected), March 28, 1871. 

The Sunday school was organized about 1842 or 1843, and has been kept 
up nearly, or quite all the time since, except during the winter season prior to 
the completion of the first church-building in 1845. W. J. Ashmore is the 
present Superintendent, and there are on the roll the names of about two hun- 

* None labori^t) inorc than one-half of th*- time previ.iiifi to Rev. Mr. Venable's aecond call. 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 319 

dred and fifty children. Mr. J. M. Miller is Clerk of the Session, and to his 
courtesy and kindness we are indebted for the interesting history of this vener- 
able Church. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Charleston was organized in 
1837.* Robert Lightfoot and family settled in the neighborhood in 1836, 
and Mrs. Barthenia Lightfoot, his wife, was a member of the Methodist 
Church. Being joined by parties who had recently moved from Ohio, and 
James Y. Brown and others, who were members of the society which had been 
organized east of town, they united in forming the first Methodist Church of 
this city. The name of the minister who originally organized the society can- 
not now be ascertained. The first church edifice erected was a large frame 
building, very large for that early day, and was built about the year 1839, on 
the block where Dr. Van Meter's residence now stands, and was of so frail a 
construction that it was only used about two years, when it was pulled down to 
give place to a much more elegant and durable frame building. The Church 
worshiped in this temple until 1857, when the present brick edifice was erected, 
under the direction of Rev. Timothy B. Taylor, Pastor in charge. It is a very 
neatly constructed building, two stories high — the basement containing one large 
I'oom and two small class-rooms. The entire cost of this building, including 
the spire, was about $10,000. It was dedicated by Rev. Hiram Buck, who is 
still a leading member of the Illinois Conference. There has recently been 
added to this church property a convenient and valuable parsonage. The pres- 
ent active membership is 207, under the pastoral charge of Rev. J. B. Wolfe. 
The Sunday school was organized in 1840, and has an average attendance of 
about one hundred and fifty ; the Superintendent is Charles Clarey. 

The history of the Christian Church in Charleston is of more modern date 
than that of the societies already given. It was originally organized about 1842, 
by Elder Samuel Peppers. The first church was built in 1846-47, which was 
used for a number of years and then sold to the Catholics, and the present brick 
edifice erected in the south part of the city, a short time previous to the begin- 
ning of the late war. We were unable to obtain the names of all the Pastors, 
but of those who have administered to the spiritual welfare of the Church since 
its organization are Elders Tyler, Tully, Young and Peppers. The present 
Pastor is Elder Walter S. Tingley, formerly of Indiana, and he has in his charge 
over two hundred members. The Sunday school was organized about the same 
time as the Church. It has a large attendance, and is under the superintend- 
ence of William Wright. 

The Universalist Church is of comparatively recent organization in Charles- 
ton. The society was originally formed in 1868, by Rev. W. W. Curry, and 
the church edifice erected in 1870. The only two regular Pastors since the 
organization of the Church were Revs. Curry and D. P. Bunn. Death and 
removals have reduced the membership to thirty-six, though it has far exceeded 

*There had been an organization previous to this, one and a half miles east of Charleston, but of it we were unable 
to obtain anything definite. 



820 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

this number. The Sunday school was organized in 1870, and has an average 
attendance of eighty-seven ; Joseph Griffith, Superintendent, and Neil S. Dew, 
Assistant Superintendent. 

The Missionary Baptist Church was organized by Rev. Mr. Riley, now of 
Paris. They have an excellent Church and Sunday school, of which Harvey 
Said is Superintendent ; but, as the minister does not reside in Charleston, we 
were unable to learn much about it. 

The St. Charles Roman Catholic Church was organized a number of vears 
ago. Their fii'st church was bought from the Christian society, and after being 
used a short time was blown down in a storm. In 1871, their present brick 
church was erected, at a cost of about .^5,000, and is 60x30 feet in size. The 
present Pastor is Rev. Father C. Kuhlraann, and about si.xty families worship 
at this church. The Sunday school was organized in 1871, is well attended and 
is superintended by Mrs. J. W. Dikob. 

There is also a society of the Episcopalians in the city, but they have no 
church edifice, and, we believe, no regular pastor. They keep up the organi- 
zation, however, and have occasional preaching. 

BENEVOLKNT ORGANIZATIONS. 

Freemasonry was introduced in Charleston at an early day. Charleston 
Lodge, No. 35, was organized October 9, A. D. 1845, A. L. 5845. The_ 
charter members were William D. Gage, Edmund Roach, Adam Mitchell, 
Green G. Guthrie, Thomas C. Moore, James Watson and Jacob Linder, of 
whom William D. Gage was Worshipful Master : Edmund Roach, Senior 
Warden, and Adam Mitchell, Junior Warden. The present officers are: E. 
B. Buck, Worshipful Master ; Harvey Said, Senior Warden ; J. W. Tucker, 
Junior Warden : Charles Clary, Treasurer ; J. I. Brown, Secretary ; H. C. 
Barnard, Senior Deacon; John A. Ricketts, Junior Deacon; George Burton, 
Tiler, and George Tucker and H. M. Chadwick, Stewards. The records show 
about seventy members. The Lodge sustained a heavy loss by fire some years 
ago. but has recovered from its effects, and is now in a flourishing condition. 

Keystone Chapter, No. 54, Royal Arch Masons, was organized August 4, 
1859, by virtue of a dispensation issued by the Most Excellent Grand High 
Priest of the State. The first officers were : H. P. H. Bromwell, High Priest ; 
G. W. Teel, King, and N. W. Chapman, Scribe. The present officers are : 
S. B. Walker, High Priest; G. W. Burton, King; George Tucker, Scribe; 
W. W. Fisher, Ca]>tain of Host ; William Chambers. Principal Sojourner ; W. 
S. Coon, Royal Arch Captain ; C. J. Endsly, Third Vail ; Jo Watkins, Sec- 
ond Vail: Benjamin Dawson, First Vail ; L Winters, Treasurer; J. L Brown, 
Secretary, and J. A. Ricketts, Tiler, with twenty-three members on the roll. 
H. P. H. Bromwell, mentioned as the first High Priest of this Chapter, and now 
a resident of Denver, Colo., was one of the brightest and most talented Masons 
of Southern Illinois, and once served the craft as Grand Master of the State. 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 321 

Kickapoo Lodge, No. 90, I. 0. 0. F., was organized October 17, 1851. by 
Grand Master H. S. Rucker. The charter members were B. M. Hutchas(jn, 
Elijah C. Banks, A. D. Walker, D. S. Gales and A. M. Henry, of whom B. 
M. Hutchason was Noble Grand, and E. C. Banks, Vice Grand. The present 
officers are: Moses Kershaw, N. G ; John W. Mock, V. G., and J. I. Brown, 
R. S. Number of members admitted since organization, 250. 

Charleston Lodge, No. 609, I. 0. 0. F., was organized March 8, 1876, by 
Grand Master John H. Oberley. Ten members were embraced in the charter, 
and Dr. Denman, of Kickapoo Lodge, was appointed Special Deputy by the 
Grand Master, and instituted the new Lodge. The present officers are : E. 
H. Clarke, N. G. ; Andrew Stimmols, V. G. ; J. C. Hall, R. S. Coles En- 
campment, No. 94, was organized several years ago, and is the highest body of 
the Odd Fellows. The officers are : F. Frommel, C. P. : John Rail, H. P., 
and J. I. Brown, Secretary. 

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLi?. . 

The following are the statistics of the public schools for 1877-78 : 

Whole niuijber of persons in district under twenty-one 1,596 

Number between tlie .ages of six and twenty-one 1,087 

Whole number of different pupils enrolled 754 

Greatest number enrolled in any month 690 

Least " •■ " " 550 

Number of Teachers employed 14 

.Superintendent 1 

High school was organized January, 1871. First graduating class, June, 
1873. Total number of graduates, 125; of these, 54 are teachers, or have 
been, 4 lawyers, 3 doctors, 1 dentist, 2 druggists, 4 merchants, 9 clerks, 3 have 
died, and all are conducting themselves in such a mariner as to win the respect 
and confidence of the community. The high-school course embraces three 
years. 

In pursuit of such an education, the studies of our schools serve as efficient 
means toward an end, but they are not the end sought. The higher and better 
uses of all studies are their indirect uses, the benefits that flow through their 
proper prosecution, in greater power of attention, enlarged comprehension, 
quickened curiosity, greater self-control, and wider and more far-reaching influ- 
ence over others. Our schools are striving to attain these results. They are 
divided into three departments — high school, grammar, primary. The primary 
is divided into four grades, and each grade into three classes ; the grammar 
into three grades, and each grade into two classes. 
The present corps of teachers are : 

Western Seminary — Miss Mary Hampton, Principal ; Miss Ettie Allison, 
First Assistant ; Miss Emma Fancier, Second Assistant, and Miss Louisa 
Houriett, Third Assistant. 



322 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

Eastern Seminary — Miss Sallie Blankenbaker, Principal ; Miss Florence 
Moore, First Assistant ; Miss Kate Waters, Second Assistant, and Miss Anna 
Teel, Third Assistant. 

Central Bxdlding — Mrs. Nellie Bain, Principal, high school ; Miss Emma 
Bain, Assistant, high school ; Miss Kate Whittemore, third grammar depart- 
ment ; Mrs. J. T. Terrill, second grammar department ; Miss Stella Hitch- 
cock, first grammar department ; Miss Sarah Gray, primary department. 

Of the present corps of teachers, eight are graduates of the high school. 
An Alumni Association was formed in 1874, and meets every June. Present 
Superintendent, Prof. M. Moore, is now serving his ninth year. 

The public-school buildings of Charleston are all elegant brick edifices, of 
modern architecture, and present a very fine and imposing appeai-ance, partic- 
ularly that in the Central District. It was built in 1870-71. Thff corner- 
stone was laid in the spring of 1870, by the Masonic fraternity, and the 
building was completed in time for the session of 1871. It cost about 
§50,000 ; is well arranged for school purposes, and supplied with all modern 
improvements in the way of school furniture. 

THE NEWSPAPERS. 

The press of the present day may be styled " the power behind the throne 
that is greater than the throne itself." The same might be said of it that has 
been said of gold — that it is the " Archimedean lever that moves the world," 
and, unquestionably, the press of to-day is of almost unlimited power in the 
land. We sometimes wonder if the world would not cease to move were the 
newspapers all suppressed. They are one of the luxuries that we could not 
well get along without, having once known their usefulness. Think of it t 
we read to-day the news from the capital of the Russias; from the south- 
ern extremity of the Grecian Archipelago, from Athens, from Paris, from 
London, and from the uttermost parts of the earth. It is, indeed, wonderful 
to contemplate. And, aside from this, the press is a true record of a 
nation's greatness. Every day, the history of the country is inscribed upon 
the page of the newspaper, and without its influence ignorance would reign 
supreme. 

The first permanent newspaper established in Charleston was the Courier, 
now known as the Plaindealer. One or two efforts had been made previous to 
this to start a paper, but a few issues comprised the effort. The first edition of 
the Courier was issued in 1840. The proprietors were William Harr and 
William Workman. Harr bought out Workman, who afterward sold an interest 
to George Harding, now connected with the press of Indianapolis. Harding 
remained with the Courier until 1857, when he sold his interest to Harr, who 
conducted the paper until a short time after the emancipation proclamation of 
President Lincoln, when he sold it to Eli Chittenden, who changed its name to 
Plaindealer. Chittenden ran the paper for about two years, when he sold it 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 323 

to John S. Theaker, who published it till October, 1866, and sold it to Dunbar 
Brothers. Albert Dunbar, one of the proprietors, died in 1875, when Lucian 
Dunbar continued to publish it until in May, 1878, when he sold it to McCon- 
nell & Co., the present proprietors. It is Republican in politics, and a live, 
energetic newspaper. 

George Harding, after his retirement from the old Courier in 1857, estab- 
lished the Charleston Ledger, which he published about two years, and sold it 
to John M. Eastin. He sold it to McHenry Brooks, who published it until 
1867, and sold it to Shoaft" and Underwood. About this time the name of the 
Courier had been changed to that of Plaindealer, and ShoafF & Underwood 
changed the Ledger into the Courier. Shoaif sold his interest in about a 
year to Major Miller, who now publishes a paper in Tuscola, and in about a 
year more. Miller sold to E. B. Buck, who, with Underwood, published the paper 
until about 1873-74, when Buck bought out Underwood and has published it 
ever since. Mr. Buck is an editor of considerable experience and an able news- 
paper man, and has filled the office of President of the State Press Association. 
His paper is true blue Democratic, and a faithful exponent of the principles of 
that party. 

The grain trade of Charleston is not very extensive, from the fact that a 
large proportion of it is fed to stock by the farmers. Among the grain-buyers 
of the city is the firm of Messrs. McDonald and Zink, who use the elevator on 
the railroad owned by Traver <& Nixon, and who, in the grain season, do a very 
large business. 

A feature of Charleston is the studio of Charles Briggs. He was the first 
house and sign painter in Charleston, and from that has taken up portrait paint- 
ing. We have seen several portraits of old citizens of Charleston, which show 
considerable talent of the artist for this kind of work. He has made a specialty 
of painting fine stock bred in this county, in which he excels. Specimen paint- 
ings of hogs from Shepard k Alexander's herds look so natural that one natu- 
rally expects to hear them grunt and squeal. 

The Infirmary of Dr. Van Meter, mentioned in another page, was, some 
years ago, one of the largest institutions in Charleston. But years of labor, 
and ill-health compelled the doctor recently to close it and retire from active 
business life. 

Mound Cemetery, Charleston's beautiful little city of the dead, is located 
about one mile west of town, and is well adapted for cemetery purposes. The 
name is well chosen, being a large mound in the center, and the land sloping 
down in all directions. The first cemetery is now in the city limits and becom- 
ing pretty well filled. Mound Cemetery was laid off, as stated, one mile west 
of the city. 



324 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 



MATTOON TOWNSHIP. 



This township, named from the city of Mattoon, is the middle one in the 
western tier of townships in the county. It contains thirty-six sections of land 
— one Congressional township — and is principally prairie land. 

The Little Wabash courses through the southern part, flowing southward until 
it finds an outlet in the larger stream of that name. In the southern part, 
skirting this stream, is a strip of timber, known as the Wabash Point Timber, 
and is the locality where the earliest settlements were made. It is the only 
grove of native forest-trees, of any size, in the township. The best timber has 
long been cut away for use in the settlement of the country, what is left being 
used chiefly for firewood. 

The Little Wabash affords the principal drainage in the township. Its east- 
ern part is known as the " Divide," as the water naturally runs in opposite 
directions from that point. It is almost the highest land in Illinois. 

Away from the timber to the north, the face of the country is generally 
quite level, broken only by long undulations. It is almost entirely prairie land 
in this part, and was allowed to remain uncultivated until after the opening of 
the railroads. It was largely used for pasturage during this period, and often 
presented signs of great animation as the herds of cattle, under the care of their 
drovers, moved about over its grassy, slightly undulating surface. 

The prairies are now the chief producing part of the township. They 
easily admit of good drainage and, though to some extent rather level, are ex- 
ceedingly productive. Corn is the principal cereal grown. The others do well, 
but throughout this part of Central Illinois arc not the staple article of agricult- 
ure. Cattle and hogs are raised quite extensively. Mr. Elisha Linder and a 
few others have been for many years prominently engaged in this business. 
The railroads at Mattoon give a direct outlet to all the chief markets of the 
world and should maintain a constant sale for farm produce. 

A curious phenomenon exists on the farm of W. M. Champion, in the south- 
west part of this township. When digging for a well in March, 1871, after 
attaining a depth of thirty-one feet, a drill was used which was sunk a few feet 
farther, and a vein of carbonate gas struck. It was observed that when the 
drill was withdrawn the water gurgled up at irregular intervals, and as a vein 
was supposed to be found preparations were made to wall the well. No smell 
was attached to the gas, and no thoughts of it being then entertained. From 
the peculiar motion of the water it was feared by one of the men that there 
might be poisonous gases in the well, and one of them went after a wisp of hay 
and another for some shavings. The latter returned first, and, lighting his 
bunch, was hallooed to by the other to " Tiirow it down." /. c, on the ground. 
Thinking he meant throw it in the well he did, and a frightful report and sheet 
of flame burst forth. Mr. Tremble and one or two others who were near were 
severely scorched about the face, and all were tremendously amazed. The gas 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 325 

soon burned out, but would soon accumulate. Various experiiaents were made 
with it. An iron tube was inserted and the gas allowed to escape in a small 
stream. When lighted it burned with a brilliant light. The well soon became 
notorious and was visited by scores of people from all sections of the West. 
Finally, Mr. Champion bethought himself to utilize the gas, and, conducting it 
by pipes to his house, soon had it in use in his kitchen to cook by, and in other 
stoves it was used as fuel. It made an excellent light, and he has all the ap- 
pliances of a city in that regard. He walled the well, and now water stands 
in it, all seasons, so that from one well he gets light, fuel and water, all without 
any tax or license. 

Attempts have been made to obtain petroleum in the township, but all have 
proved unsuccessful. Coal can be had as it was found in exploring for oil, but 
at such a depth that it will hardly pay to work. 

With this brief outline of the topographical features of the township, we 
will pass to that part of more interest to all — the 

EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 

As has been intimated, the earliest settlement in this township was made 
near the timber on the. Little Wabash, in the south part of the township. 
Emigration to this part of the county came after that part along the Embarrass 
River had received its first influx of settlers, hence the locality was known 
before any came to live. 

In the summer of 1826, Mr. Charles Sawyer, a resident of Kentucky, 
came to this part of Illinois looking for a home. He remained a short 
time with the Trues, in what is now La Fayette Township, and examined the 
country to the south and west of them. Selecting a location at the north side 
of the timber, on the Little Wabash, he returned to the True settlement, 
and hired a man named Bates, for $10, to build him a cabin, while he should 
return to Kentucky for his family. Mr. Bates hired Levi Doty, a young man 
living in the neighborhood, to build the cabin, and, by winter, a very comfort- 
able home was ready for " Uncle Charley " when he should return. This cabin 
was the first habitation for a white man known to have been built in the 
bounds of either Mattoon or Paradise Township. It stood near the site of 
Mr. John Sawyer's house in Section 28, and until a few other pioneers could 
erect similar habitations, was the home of the emigrant while he was selecting 
and preparing his own fireside. 

During the interval from the completion of the cabin by Mr. Doty, and 
what few pioneers he could call to his aid, and Mr. Sawyer's return in the 
spring of 1827, one family made it a temporary home until they could build 
their own cabins. The family was that of James Nash. They were living in the 
cabin when Mr. Sawyer arrived. Some among the early residents state that 
another family, that of Miles Hart, occupied the cabin. Mr. John Sawyer is, 
however, not of this opinion. It may be that Mr. Hart remained in it only a 



326 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

few days, while Mr. Nash seems to have used it longer. Which of the two 
statements is accurate, it is now difficult to determine, but we are inclined to 
the opinion that only Mr. Nash lived in the cabin, and that Mr. Hart did not 
come until later, as is mentioned further on. When "Uncle Charley," as he 
was afterward always known, returned, he brought with him his two sons-in- 
law, John Young and Henry Cole, who each brought a small family. Mr. 
Young settled where B. F. Mooney now lives, and Mr. Cole immediately north 
and adjoining Uncle Charley. These three pioneers had not been long in their 
frontier homes until they were joined by John Houching, known as "Uncle 
Jack," who settled the farm now owned by Azariah Sanders. The Hart fam- 
ilies, one of whom. Miles H., has already been noticed, came about the same 
time, and joined the infantile settlement. Miles H. was joined by his fiither, 
Thomas, and his brothers Silas, Jonathan, Moses and Thomas. Jr., all of whom 
brought families but the last named, who was yet a single man. The Hart 
family settled in what is now Paradise Township, and will be found noticed 
there more fully. If they all came at once, then the assertion of Mr. John 
Sawyer, that Miles H. did not live in his father's cabin prior to the latter's 
permanent removal, is correct. These families, with James T. Cunningham 
and Jefferson Coleman came together, and were the pioneers of Paradise Town- 
ship. The entire settlement at that date was, however, counted as one. 

These persons were about all that came in 1827. They formed the first 
settlement and may be truly named the pioneers of that part of the county. 

The next year, John Sawyer, brother of Charles, located on the east side 
of the timber. About the same time that he came, George M. Hanson and 
Dr. John Epperson, the first physician in the county, arrived. Mr. Hanson 
settled the farm now owned by John E. Tremble, and the Doctor located 
farther south, just over the line in what is now Paradise Township. Though 
an early settler there, and one whose history properly belongs to that township, 
some account of him here will not be out of place. 

He was for many years the only physician of all this part of the country, 
often riding twenty and thirty miles to visit his patients. He was uniformly 
kind and faithful in his attentions to the sick, and was greatly respected. Even 
after old age came on and lie earnestly rc(juested none to call on him for pro- 
fessional advice or aid, his old neighbors and acquaintances would not give him 
up. but came again and again for him. If he could not go to the patient, they 
would ask for prescriptions and advice, and as long as the old Doctor lived, he 
could not deny them this. He remained at his old home until his death, 
which occurred only a little over a year ago. The old settlers of this part 
remember well the golden wedding which he and his faithful wife were privi- 
leged to celebrate a few years ago. 

About a year after the settlement of the Doctor and Mr. Hanson, came 
James Graham and family, who located a little east of Charles Sawyer. Mr. 
G. was a local Methodist preacher of commendable zeal, and a faithful, earnest, 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 327 

Christian man. He was one of the pioneer ministers in the western part of the 
county, and was a man extensively known. Soon after he settled, Elisha 
Linder arrived with his mother, two sisters and one brother, and settled south 
and adjoining Mr. Graham. Mr. Linder had been out here in 1829, and 
selected a location, remaining about two months. Early in 1831, he returned, 
planted a crop, raised a cabin, and then returned for his mother and family, 
arriving with them in October. They were from Hardin County, Ky., 
where many of those we have mentioned had lived, and, like their predecessors, 
came to Illinois to find a new home, and where they could grow with the growth 
of the county. Mr. Linder is still living on his old homestead, in the enjoy - 
ment of the comforts a long, busy life has gathered around him. 

James Nash, of whom mention has been made, died soon after his settlement. 
His was the first death in the community, and, for want of better tools, his 
cofiin was made of split walnut puncheons. Mr. John Sawyer, Sr., now an old 
man, states that he was among those who made the coflBn and dug the grave . 
He was a boy then, but distinctly remembers the circumstances. No train of 
carriages or gilded hearse bore his remains to their last resting-place. The few 
neighbors, true to one another, gathered silently at the cabin of their late asso- 
ciate, and, after a prayer, a song, and a few remarks by the good old Elder, laid 
him away in his rough coffin and lonely grave. Mr. Nash's death was the 
result of an injury received from carrying a log, with which to make a bee gum, 
on his shoulder. His death occurred on December 24, 1829. He was buried 
on Christmas Day, on a small bluff on the Little Wabash, near what is now the 
home of John Thomas, on the road from Mattoon to Paradise. This w'as the 
first grave dug for a white settler at the Wabash Point. One of his children 
has since been buried near him. The plnce Mr. Nash settled fell into the 
hands of William Langston, another early settler. It is now owned by 
William Clark. George Morris settled west of Mr. Langston's, his farm being 
the one now owned by the widow Langston. Next west of Mr. Morris was old 
Mr. Champion, father of Richard and William Champion. Further on south 
and west of the timber, in what is now Paradise Township, were the Currys , 
Moores, Mclntoshes, Alexanders, Crosses, Brinegers and the Drakes. These 
were among the early settlers in this neighborhood, and in Paradise Township , 
where tiiey are more particularh^ noticed. 

On November 11, 1830, Mr. Hiram Tremble came to the infantile settle- 
ment, pitching his camp near the cabin of " Uncle Charley." He says it was 
the common camping-ground for all, and Uncle Charley was looked upon as the 
center of the little group. He was always a true friend to all who came ; was 
a devout, earnest Christian, a Methodist, and was among the first to aid in 
planting that church at the Point. 

Mr. Tremble is a local minister in that denomination, and is now living on 
his old homestead. He has been quite active in advancing the interests of this 
part of the county ; was a contractor and builder of part of the two railroads 



328 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

centering at Mattoon ; helped build the first grain warehouse there, and was 
one of the first merchants in the town. He will be well remembered by many 
residents in his sketches of the early times here, published in the Mattoon 
Journal, under the title, " Forty Years Ago," and from which we have 
obtained much of our information respecting the early days of the western part 
of the county. 

The settlers mentioned include about all who came prior to 1882. During 
this interval, Coles County was formed, and a voting-place established in this 
neighborhood. The first who came generally lived in their wagons until they 
could erect a cabin. These cabins were built of round logs, notched at the 
ends, so as to fit closely together. They were generally cut the required length 
in the woods, and, on the "raibing-day," were hauled to the place selected for 
the future home of the pioneer. As fast as they were brought to the ground, 
they were notched and rolled into their place, two of the best men in the party 
acting as "end men." 

When the cabin had reached the required height, the four last, or top, logs 
were often made three or four feet longer than the rest, thereby projecting over 
their fellows. The end pieces forming the cone were made each one shorter 
than its predecessor, until an ape.x was reached. On this, from end to end, was 
laid a stout center-pole, projecting like its fellows three or four feet at either 
end. About two feet below it, another was placed, and on down until the ends 
of the outstretching logs were reached. These were covered with split oak 
slabs, one-half inch thick, about a foot wide and often four feet long. They 
were held in their places generally by " weight poles," i. e., poles placed over each 
'■ lap ' of the clapboards, held in their places by short sticks placed endways 
between them. Sometimes stones were laid on the roof in addition to these- 
The cabin was now a simple pen, with no means of ingress and egress, and no 
apertures for light, save the cracks between the logs. They must not be left 
unclosed, as but little or no protection could be afforded with them open. A 
bed of " mud ' mortar was made, the heart pieces of the oak, from which the 
clapboards or "shakes" had been made for the roof and puncheons for the 
floor and doors, were taken, inserted edgways between the logs and held in their 
places by pins driven into auger-holes in the logs, and all covered well with the 
mud mortar ; when thoroughly dry, the chinking and daubing completely covered 
the cracks and rendered the cabin comfortable. 

An opening for the door was made in the side of the house by cutting a 
space about three feet in width by six feet in height, leaving the upper and lower 
logs half cut through, one to form a door-step, the other a secure upper-part. 
" Jambs " were next pinned to the ends of the logs, both to hold them in their 
places and to form a better door-frame. The door was made of split puncheons 
pinned to cross-pieces and hung on wooden hinges. The latch was made on the 
inner side of the door, and was raised from the outside by means of a leather 
thong passing through a gimlet-hole a few inches above the latch. At night, 



ph- 





OAKLAND 




HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 831 

it was drawn in and the door was practically locked. It was always out in the 
daytime, and was considered by the pioneer an open invitation to all to enter 
and partake of his hospitality. It was, in its mute way, a sign of welcome, and 
gave rise to the popular, earnest proverb, " My latch-string is always out." This 
was exemplified by the fact that when it was withdrawn it was considered that, 
for some reason, the invitation was for the time also withdrawn. 

A window for the humble home was made, commonly opposite the door, by 
cutting out a space about two feet square and placing therein a window contain- 
ing two or four window-lights. In early pioneer times in the West, when glass 
could not be obtained, either owing to the distance to the settlements or the 
poverty of the pioneer, greased paper answered the place of glass, the windows, 
however, having only a dimension of the width of one log, and probably two 
feet long. Sometimes, especially in schoolhouses, several feet in length of a 
log was cut out and a window made in this manner. The next thing necessary 
to complete the cabins was the chimney or fire-place. That was always at 
one end of the cabin, and was often five or six feet wide and nearly three feet 
deep. 

An aperture was made in the logs of the required length, and a space meas- 
ured off outside, and covered either with clay or more often with flagstones. 
Split pieces of oak were made, one end of which was placed just inside the logs 
of the wall, the other projecting outward, where it was crossed by a similar 
stick, both notched to fit closely together. The inclosure was built up in this 
manner until the required height was reached. The inside was securely covered 
with stones or a thick layer of mud, more commonly the former, to prevent the 
chimney from burning. On the top of this pen, a chimney was made of sticks 
and mud firmly cemented together. At the bottom, it was of the same size, or 
nearly so, of the fire-place, but grew narrower as it neared the top, where it was 
often not more than one foot square. This chimney, when properly constructed, 
was perfectly safe, and possessed an excellent draught. On the inner side, a 
crane was hung, to which were suspended the various pots and kettles used by 
the good wife or her daughters in their cooking. No stoves at this date were to 
be seen. Even had they been easily obtained, the poverty of the average pio- 
neer would have prevented him from obtaining one. 

The floor was laid with puncheons split, like the clapboards for the roof, 
with a frow, from a clean, straight-grained oak-tree. They were from four to 
six or eight feet in length, and were laid, commonly, on short, round poles, a 
few inches above the ground. Often the pioneer's cabin did not possess even 
the luxury of such a floor, the earth, tramped hard, answering the purpose. If 
a loft was desired, it was made by running stout poles, three or four feet apart, 
from the top of the last round of logs on one side of the cabin to the other, and 
on these were laid puncheons similar to the ones on the floor beneath. A lad- 
der, leading from below, stood in one corner of the cabin, generally just beliind 
the door and near the fire-place. 



332 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

The early emigrants rarely brought an extensive outfit for housekeeping. 
They were mostly poor, and in this regard were all equal. The cabin had been 
built, it will be observed, without a single piece of iron being put into its con- 
struction, pegs answering the place of nails. Where beds, tables, chairs and 
other such articles were needed, they were made. The bed was a rude, strong 
affair, made in one corner of the room, by placing an upright post about four 
feet from one wall, and six or seven from the other. Poles were laid from this 
post to both walls, slats laid thereon, whose outer end extended through between 
two logs, and on them the bed was spread. Dried prairie-grass was often used 
until feathers could be obtained. Under this bed, a smaller one was made that 
could be pulled out at night, and shoved under again in the morning. We 
have seen them in this manner, and have also seen, about two feet above the 
main bed, another made, and at the same distance above that, another, not 
unlike the berths in a steamboat. A table was made of a stout oak plank, or 
two of them fastened together with cross-pieces pegged on and supported by 
four upright posts inserted at auger-holes near each corner. Stools were made 
in the same manner, only they were small and commonly three-legged. Pegs 
were driven in auger-holes in the wall, on which the wearing appai-el of each 
one could be hung, or where any article not needed could find a resting-place, 
were it something adapted to that way of support. Shelves for dishes were 
made from small split boards, placed either on pegs or inside two uprights made 
in the same way, and held'to their place by means of notches. 

These were the main features of the cabin-home. Many did not possess 
as many articles as we have enumerated, and some had more, and often much 
better habitations. The luxuries of life were generally not seen the first years 
of the settlement, but appeared as the residents could obtain them. 

After the neighborhood had become established in this part of Mattoon 
Township — for by such boundaries must they be designated, even though the 
townships did not then exist — some of the young men and women concluded 
they could get along better together, and a new home was to be provided foi" 
them. Land was plenty and cheap, and not so much was required then to com- 
mence married life as now. A cabin, similar to the one we have described, was 
erected for the young couple, and was commonly dedicated with a dance or frolic, 
in which all the young folks of the community joined. 

When the young couple repaired to their new home, generally on horse-back 
or on foot (if by the former method, both^ on one horse), they found it ready 
for use, with its puncheon table, tripod stools, slab cupboard and wide chimney. 
It would contain a few articles of household utility given by the parents of the 
pair ; for a bride's dower consisted then of a few such articles, some good 
advice, and, mayhap, a horse and side-saddle. The young husband had an ax. 
a few other tools, a few farming implements, and. possibly, a horse. Thus 
equipped, they started in life. The young bride had no confidential friend : 
knew nothing of milliners and mantua-makers; did not take a fashion-journal 



HISTORY OF COLES COCNTY. 333 

or the New York Weekly to beguile leisure hours and give her foolish nothings 
to think about. She entered on life conscious of a duty, fully prepared to do 
her part, with a healthy body, vigoi'ous, crude mind, and earnest purpose. 
Before a few years elapsed, other tripods were needed for the children that had 
come to the frontier home ; and comforts and blessings of life, though they 
entailed hardship and toil, came to the rude, cheerful home. 

As much as old people love to dwell upon these pleasant memories, we can- 
not but think there are equally brave and willing brides to-day, who, though 
they do not meet trouble in the way our ancestors found it, find it in other 
ways, calling for as much resolve and resolution as of old, whose trials are met 
as bravely as those met and overcome by their grandmothers of the early day 
of Central Illinois. 

As soon as the old cabin-home had been established, the next care was the 
planting and cultivation of a crop. A space was cleared in the woods (as they 
had no plows that would turn the prairie sod), and, after being turned by the 
barshare plow, was planted in corn, potatoes and a few other garden vegetables, 
while a portion was sown in wheat, could any be obtained. Corn, however, 
then, as now, was the main staple. It furnished the meal for food, and, by 
boiling in strong lye, made by filtering water through wood ashes, an excellent 
and nutritious hominy was produced. Honey was abundant at this day, the 
woods abounding in bee-trees. In a year or two after the first settlers located, 
maple-sugar and molasses were additional articles of food, and most excellent 
ones, too. No molasses hidings as high a price as maple-sirup no«v, owing to 
its scarcity; the sugar, however, is not considered possessing the same qualities 
as other kinds, hence is not much in demand. These articles, found so abun- 
dantly in frontier life, added much to its comforts. Cornmeal could be made 
on the old grater or mortar, and, when baked as the native Kentucky house- 
wife knew how, made a most nutritious and palatable article of food. The 
appetites of the pioneers were generally sharpened by violent exercise in 
their daily vocations, and did not need any tempting viands to induce them 
to eat. 

Pork was obtained by allowing the hogs to run wild in the woods, subsisting 
on the mast then so plenty. To prevent them from roaming over the cultivated 
fields, a brush fence was made by felling a.gi-eat number of small trees with 
their tops altogether in a continuous line around the field. Hogs fattened on 
the mast made good pork, and as corn was not so abundant then as now, and 
mast plenty and free, they were allowed undisturbed access to it. They often 
became in a measure quite wild when allowed to roam, and when wanted at 
killing season generally had to be shot. While young, they were kept near the 
house and securely penned, as the wolves soon evinced a fondness for fresh, 
tender pork, and did not scruple in the slightest to take all they could get. 
When the pigs were large enough to resist the wolf, they were allowed their 
freedom. 



834 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

Deer, bears, wild turkeys and prairie chickens provided an abundant 
supply of wild meat for the settlers. Deer were as plenty as cattle now, 
and it was not an uncommon affair, for the pioneer to shoot one from 
his cabin-door did he want a fresh venison steak for his breakfast. So 
common was the article it was not considered the luxury it is now, and was not 
thought as much a company dish as pork or beef. Turkeys grew very fat when 
the mast became ripe, and were very tender eating. Prairie chickens were not 
often eaten, their flesh not being considered very palatable. Bears, while they 
were not so plenty here as in some parts of the West, were by no means a 
rarity, and often furnished food for the settlers. Bufialoes were very scarce, 
even if any were to be found. Their bones, old settlers tell us, were thickly 
strewn over the prairies when they came, but the live animal was a rarity. 

Wolves were the most troublesome animals to be found. They would kill 
the young pigs, depopulate chicken-roosts, carry oft" young lambs, slay their 
mothers, and all the time render night hideous with their bowlings. They were 
very numerous, too, so mnch so, that grand hunts were organized to extermi- 
nate them. Mr. Elisha Linder tells how that in one winter he killed one hundred 
of them, generally by riding them down and clubbing them, or shooting them. 
The wolf was generally a great coward, preferring to pillage at night. During 
the day they would retire to their dens on some little knoll or in the edge of the 
timber. After the country began to settle, bounties were ofiered by the coun- 
ties for wolf-scalps, whereby many paid their taxes. Now they are all gone 
from this part of Illinois, and sliould one adventurous wolf show himself, such 
a hunt would be organized to capture him, as would almost rival the hunts of 
early times. 

We have departed, somewhat, from the direct thread of the narrative, to 
notice the accidents to which the first pioneers were liable in the erection of 
their cabins, and their start in their new homes. We will now return, in part, 
to the narrative of the settlement, and note a few subsequent events. 

We had brought the story down to the year 1832. About this year, Charles 
W. Nabb, now a resident of Mattoon, came up from Lawrence County, 111., 
purchased the farm of George M. Hanson, and became one of the permanent 
settlers. Mr. Hanson went to Whitley's Point and settled on the farm where 
now Deck Dole lives. Among other old settlers of this date, may be reckoned 
David Hanson, from Virginia, who may have been a year or two earlier than 
1832; John Young, from Kentucky; William Moore, who removed first from 
Kentucky to Cumberland County, then to Coles ; James Waddill, an early 
teacher ; Barton Randall ; James James, another early local preacher ; Nathan 
Curry, who came in the spring of 18;j0, raised one crop, then moved to Shelby 
County, where he lived many years ; and a few others, whose names we have 
not been able to obtain. These are, however, the majority, of those who came 
to this settlement prior to the Black Hawk war. Until after that event, there 
were very few residents in the territory included in the present bounds of Mat- 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 335 

toon Township. The settlement was all one, though it extended over many 
miles of country. All were neighbors : all were poor : all were ambitious, ana 
nearly all came to enjoy the comforts of life they expected to find as the fruit 
of their privation and toil. 

The winter of 1830 and 1831 was one of unusual severity. It is known 
in the annals of the West, especially in the northern part, as the " winter of 
the deep snow." The snow fell almost continuously from the latter part of 
November till late in January, covering the ground in Northern Illinois to the 
depth of nearly four feet. In the southern part of the State, it was not so 
severe or lasting, and was a little more than half that depth. The winter was, 
however, very cold, and as the settlers were generally poorly provided against 
any such contingencies, much suffering ensued. About the latter part of Feb- 
ruary, a warm spell came, which quickly melted the snow, covering the entire 
face of the country with water. At this juncture, a reverse of temperature 
arose, and a continuous glare of ice was the result. People could not go any- 
where with liorsos or oxen, as they were not able, in a majority of cases, to shoe 
their teams. Had skates been as common then as now, what glorious sport the 
boys would have enjoyed '■ While this ice was on the ground, a few emigrants 
arrived, after a tedious journey over the icy prairies. Often the women were 
obliged to walk, the emigrant teams scarcelv able to draw the wagons. The 
ice was succeeded in the spring by another thaw, the like of which has rarely 
been seen since. The people were obliged to resort to various measures to 
obtain meal, fuel, meats, etc., while they were compelled to carry water and 
food to their stock, none of which could travel over the smooth surface every- 
where presented. During this time, the old mortar and grater came vigor- 
ously into use to supply corumeal, and many evenings did the male mem- 
bers of the family devote their energies to one or the other, generally the 
former, to supply food for the rest. Neither was an easy task. The grater was 
made by puncturing the bottom of an old tin pan with a nail a great many times. 
On the outer edges of the rough pieces of tin thus presented, the ear was rubbed 
until worn to the cob. This could be successfully done only when the corn was 
a little soft. When hard, it would shell from the cob too easily. Then the 
mortar came into use. This instrument was made by burning a hollow 
in a block or stump, of a suflBcient depth to hold about a peck of shelled corn. 
A pestle was then made of a heavy piece of wood, that would fit the cavity toler- 
ably closely. Sometimes, to give it more weight, an iron wedge was fixed 
securely in the end. Corn would now be placed in the hole and pounded fine 
with the pestle. Ofttimes, to render the task easier, the j)estle was rigged to a 
pole, not unlike a well-sweep, and worked in this way. When rigged to the 
sweep, it was a great saving of labor, and could be made much more eflFective. 
The meal made in this manner was not very fine, it was true, but it could be 
sifted, what went through the sieve being taken as the meal while the rest was 
made into what was known as beaten hominy. 



336 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

Before the pioneers made outdoor ovens, bread was baked in a skillet or 
on a board before the fire. Corn-bread made in this way had a peculiar relish, 
it is claimed by the old settlers. Probably their appetites had much to do 
with the relish. Mush and milk was also a favorite which even yet has not 
lost its strength. 

The season following the "deep snow " produced a very feir crop. A few 
more emigrants came to the settlement, and helped swell its numbers. No 
troubles with the Indians, who were very few, had been experienced in this part 
of Illinois, and everything here seemed in a fair way to prosperity. The 
northern portions of the State had, however, not been so fortunate in this 
regard. The Sac and Fox Indians, whose villages were near the junction of 
the Mississippi and Roi^k Rivers, had refused to leave their homes and remain 
beyond the Father of Waters. Black Hawk was chief of the Sac nation, whose 
principal village was on a romantically commanding site just above the mouth 
of Rock River. It had been their home for more than one hundred and fifty 
years, and was endeared to them by all the ties of home and human nature. 
By the seventh article of the treaty of 1804, the lands belonging to this nation 
were actually to accrue to the United States whenever they were sold to private 
individuals. Until such a time the Indians could remain on them and hunt as 
usual. In 1816, Black Hawk recognized the validity of this treaty ; but when, 
in 1829, some of the land in his native home wjis sold by the General Govern- 
ment and became thereby the property of others, he refused to recognize the 
treaty and to leave his village. Adjacent to it was a large field of nearly seven 
hundred acres which had been the common field for the cultivation of corn, 
pease and squashes. This field some of the more lawless whites seized before 
they had a right to it, and by wanton acts of cruelty to the Indian women and 
children provoked the savages to retaliatory measures. The whites also brought 
considerable whisky, which they sold and traded to lawless Indians, against the 
law and the express commands of the chiefs, which so enraged them at the 
carousals it produced, that in one or two instances the exasperated chieftains 
went to the houses of the settlers, and, knocking in the heads of the whisky 
barrels, emptied tlicir contents on the ground. C>iie thing brought on another 
until war was declared. The first call for volunteers was made by Gov. Rey- 
nolds early in the spring of 1831. No county south of St. Clair and east of 
Sangamon was included in this call, as it was thought the Indians could be 
easily driven across the Mississippi, where they had been for a time living. 
Black Hawk refused to go. and force was used. At first the Indians conquered 
the whites, and more calls were made for volunteers. Numbers responded from 
every part of the State. In these calls, Coles County furnished but few men, 
and the Wabash Point less than a dozen. Those that went were required to 
furnish their own guns, ammunition, horses, etc., and provisions enough to last 
them to one of the forts where the general rendezvous took place. There they 
were supplied with ammunition and food, and were attached to some regiment. 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 337 

. The recruits generally went in companies under self-appointed leaders. The 
State militia law was then in force, and each man knew, or thought he knew, 
the tactics of war. The sequel showed some ludicrous sides of human nature. 
Many brave men at home were cowards on the field, and ready to run at the 
first opportunity. It was observed, then, that the bravest were the modest 
ones, and those that commonly had the least to say about their own valiant 
deeds were the ones who merited praise. 

It might not be amiss to mention the '• old muster-days," as they were 
called. They were days of a general gathering, when all able-bodied men were 
required to meet at some designated point and drill. The day began to be 
regarded as one of general frolics, rather than muster, for, as the danger 
from the Indians decreased, the need of the militia diminished, until, so 
apparent did its uselessness become, and so obnoxious to those who could not 
spare the time, that, by a common decree of the people, who ridiculed the day 
in every way they could, it was abolished by the General Assembly. From the 
return of the troops from the Black Hawk war down to the opening of the 
railroads in 1855, but few things occurred out of the regular course of events. 
That war settled the Indian question in Illinois, and peace, with the red men in 
her borders, was the result. They were gradually withdrawn from their homes 
in the Prairie State, and, in a few years, none were to be seen. They 
followed the course of the westward sun, and seem destined, erelong, to be 
swallowed up by the mighty race which lias taken their country. 

Emigration set in anew to the West, and throughout the entire length and 
breadth of Illinois a continuous train of settlers poured in. Chicago was now 
coming into prominence, and Utopian visions of wealth began to dazzle the eyes 
of the denizens of Illinois. Before proceeding to note the rise of the improve- 
ment system and its inglorious end, we will notice two events of unusual occur- 
rence which happened, and which many of the old residents in Mattoon Town- 
ship will remember. The first of these is 

THE METEORIC SHOWER. 

A most remarkable phenomenon occurred on the night of November 12, 1833, 
known as the " Falling Stars," which it will be well to notice here. It appears 
to have occurred all over the Western country, if not over the entire United 
States. Mr. Tremble gives a stirring account of it in his sketches, which 
we here reproduce. He says : 

" I was on my way home from a mill, west of Shelby ville, and had arrived 
at the cabin of an early friend and brother in the ministry, about four miles 
west of the town, then a village of about two hundred inhabitants. As I was 
twenty-six miles from home, and had only an ox-team, I desired the brother to 
get me up at 3 o'clock in the morning, so that I could get home that night. 
After a pleasant evening, we retired. My landlord was up at the designated 
hour, and, going out of the cabin-door, saw a sight that utterly bewildered him 



338 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

for a moment. All the stars seemed to be falling, and he at once concluded the 
heavens were falling and that the final day had come. Returning into 
the cabin, he aroused the family and myself, assuring us that the day of 
judgment had come, and for us to prepare to settle our accounts with our Maker. 
We were all up in a few moments, and beheld a sight never to be forgotten. 
The air was full of falling drops of fire, that immediately expired as they 
neared the ground. Sometimes they would alight on a leaf of a bush or tree, 
and go out with a peculiar noise, difficult to delineate in orthography. It 
sounded something like " tchuck," given with the shortest possible sound of the 
vowels. After gazing on the grand sight awhile, I asked the good lady to 
prepare me a little breakfast, while I fed and yoked my cattle. While I was 
eating my breakfast, the good minister remarked that he could not understand 
how I could eat so unconcernedly, when on the threshold of eternity. I noticed 
he was indeed in deep earnest, and sat part of the time with his head bowed 
between his knees, clasped in his hands, and apparently engaged in earnest 
thought. He arose when I prepared to go, protesting against my journey on 
such a solemn occasion, as the world would soon be on fire and the end of all 
all things be. I told him that if his conjectui'es proved correct, I might as 
well be out on the highway, driving my ox-team, as anywhere else. Bidding 
them adieu, I rigged my team, bestrode the near ox, and, with a flourish of my 
whip, started. It was now about 4 o'clock, the air was a little cool, and a slight 
frost lay on the ground. At the start, I had nearly a mile of timber to pass 
through. The meteors were falling all around me as thick as hail or as rain- 
drops in an ordinary shower. Some of them were so large they cast shadows 
on the trees. Many of them came in contact with trees in falling, and burst, 
throwing ofi" a myriad of sparks, illuminating the forest all about me. It was 
the grandest freak of nature I ever beheld, and passes mj' powers of descrip- 
tion. Emerging from the timber to the prairie, the sight was even more grand 
and inspiring. A rain of fire-drops came down. All about and above me, the 
air was full of the falling sparks, none of which touched me or my oxen. They 
would frequently fall nearly to the ground on some bush, but none touched me 
that I saw or felt, though I endeavored to catch some on ray hand to experience 
a personal contact. None reached the ground that I saw : all expired as they 
neared it. The storm of fire continued with no abatement that I could see until 
the approach of day, when the light caused it to gradually disappear, just as 
the stars retire on the approach of the morning sun. 

" Just at daylight, I entered the village of Shelbyville. where I found the 
inhabitants grouped about the corners, discussing the strange wonder. Many 
appeared to be greatly alarmed. The opinion that the end of the world was at 
hand strongly prevailed. 1 did not stop to discuss the question with them, but 
left them to solve it as best they could, and went on my way. All along my 
journey homeward, wherever I met any settlers or travelers, the " fire " was 
the theme. I could not explain it. nor could they. I could only think it was 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 339 

some freak of nature scientists might some day explain ; but that tlie world was 
coming to an end, I did not much credit." 

These various meteoric showers have never been very satisfactorily e.x- 
plained. They have occurred at different intervals for ages, and for many 
years were regarded with supernatural awe by all classes of people. It is a 
common practice among the inhabitants of any part of the earth to so regard 
any unnatural phenomenon, which they cannot i-eadily explain. The commonly 
accepted theory among modern scientists is that they originate in certain nebu- 
lous bodies revolving in space in a elliptical orbit about the sun, the aphelion 
of which meets the orbit of the earth at the time of its annual exhibitions. 
This is in a measure verified, as the showers appeared m less brilliancy for 
three successive seasons after 1833, and again in 1841, and in 184(5. None 
were so brilliant by far, however, as the exhibition of 1833, whose grandest 
display was at Niagara, where it is said to have been of such remarkable vigor 
as to surpass comprehension. 

The fall of meteoric stones is an occurrence often noted in the liistory 
of the country. The appearance of comets are also mentioned, which caused 
wide-spread alarm, many preparing to meet the judgment which it was positively 
asserted they portended. That event has never visibly occurred yet, and it is 
safe to conclude comets, meteors and other irregular heavenly bodies have noth- 
ing whatever to do with it. They are now pretty satisfactorily explained, and 
only the ignorant fear them. To those who study the heavenly bodies they are 
objects of great interest and are studiously watched. 

THE "sudden freeze." 

This curious, and yet unexplained phenomenon happened on the 20th day 
of December, 1836. By many, the cold winter of 1880-31 is confounded 
with this event. A great many births, deaths and other family matters are 
now settled as to date, by their occurrence before, at or after the "deep snow" 
or the "sudden freeze." 

The 20th day of the month referred to had been rather warm. A slight 
rain fell during the forenoon, turning the few inches of snow on the ground 
into slush, and filling the creeks and ponds with water. About the middle 
of the afternoon, a heavy cloud was noticed coming rapidly from the northwest. 
It came at the rate of twenty-five or thirty miles per hour, as was afterward 
ascertained, and was accompanied with a terrific, roaring noise. As it passed 
over the country, everything was frozen in its track almost instantly. Water 
that was running in little gullies or in the streams was suddenly arrested in its 
career, blown into eddies and small waves by the wind, and frozen before it 
could subside. Cattle, horses, hogs and wild animals exposed to its fury were 
soon chilled through and many frozen in their tracks. Where a few moments 
before they walked in mud and slush, was now frozen, and unless moving 
about they were frozen fast. In some instances where individuals were ex- 



340 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

posed to the fury of this wave and unahle to reach shelter, their lives were lost. 
One man was found afterward standing frozen in the mud, dead, and still hold- 
ing the rein of his horse in his hand. He had apparently become bewildered 
and chilled, and freezing fast in the mud and slush, remained standing. 

Mr. Elisha Linder, in speaking of this storm, says : " I was near my house 
feeding some stock, when I noticed the storm-cloud approaching. Thinking it 
would be a severe windstorm and possibly rain, as it was misting at the time, I 
started to the house. I went as quickly as I could, but the storm caught me 
before I reached the door. It was so piercing in its coldness and so strong I 
could not walk against it. The water was frozen as it blew into little ridges, 
and the mud and slush soon became as hard as stone. A good many chickens 
and other fowls perished. No little suffering was experienced by many persons 
who were illy prepared for such an unlooked-for event." 

It is related of a young man named Samuel Munson, in the western part of 
the county, who had gone, or was going for his marriage-license, that, while on 
the journey he was overtaken by the wave, and, finding he could not cross the 
Okaw or one of its tributaries, turned his horse's head up the stream and partly 
against the storm. He could not make the horse travel in the face of the storm 
and, dismounting, tried to lead him. He could not do this either. When he 
tried to mount the horse again, he found his clothing, especially his overcoat, 
wet with the rain of the forenoon, frozen so he could not mount. He threw it 
off, then hastily mounted his horse and started at a full gallop in the course of 
the storm, determined to find shelter before it was too late. Coming to a grove 
of trees, possibly Dead Man's Grove, he saw a cabin, and, riding up to it, dis- 
mounted and went in. His hands and feet were by this time partially frozen, and 
he was so benumbed he could hardly talk. He was obliged to remain there 
overnight and to postpone the wedding a day or two. 

Mr. Tremble and other old settlers who experienced this "sudden freeze," 
all give a similar description and corroborate the statements made. The wave 
came from the northwest, passing over tlie central part of Illinois, lower down 
in Indiana, and is last heard of about Cincinnati, Ohio, where it arrived at 9 
o'clock in the night, freezing some emigrant wagons and teams in front of a 
tavern at Lebanon, a few miles above Cincinnati, while their owners were bar- 
gaining for a night's lodging. Its width was from about where Ottawa in Illi- 
nois now is, then barely started, to a short distance below Coles County. It is 
not heard of much above or below either place. Its origin has never been 
found, to our knowledge, nor has it been satisfactorily explained that we 
know of. Iowa was thinly settled then, and as it came across its northern 
border, we have only meager accounts concerning it there. It originated some- 
where in the vast northwest, and only lost its force and fury when it encoun- 
tered a wanner clime. 

Returning again to the subject of emigration, the growth of the State and 
the internal improvements, we find Coles County, especially its western part, 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTV. 341 

gradually filling with settlers. The scheme of building railroads and canals 
came now prominently before the people, and roused their expectations of 
future wealth and power to the highest pitch. As early as 1835, the subject 
received the attention of the Illinois Legislature, and in the message of Gov. 
Joseph Duncan to that body at the session of 1885-36, mention is made of it, 
and the General Assembly urged to act upon it. It responded in a manner 
exceeding the Governor's highest anticipations. Immense preparations were 
made, great sums of money appropriated, and work began on the Illinois & 
Michigan Canal, and on several proposed railroads, among them the Illinois 
Central and the Terre Haute & Alton. The issue of so much money, based on 
the faith of the State, and its entrance into all channels of business, had the 
efiect to draw an immense flood of emigration to Illinois, all anxious to share 
in the general prosperity. Somehow, the more the money was issued, the cheaper 
it became, and the dearer everything else grew. Acts of the Legislature in vain 
tried to hold it at and above par ; but it steadily declined, until it reached 16 
cents on the dollar in gold, and in some instances 14. Either the faith of the 
State was correspondingly below par or the money was cheap because it was 
too plenty. From the Solons of the day down to the most common class of 
people, all saw, in the start, wealth created out of nothing, only to see it grad- 
ually vanish before their eyes. As it declined in value, work began to stop 
here and there on detached parcels of the railroads, until finally on every road 
it was abandoned, and only with the wisest financiering was it kept going on 
the canal. State banks grew out of the scheme, and a currency, as fluctuating as 
varied, appeared all over the country. Merchants in New York were obliged 
to accept notes on banks in Illinois and Indiana, which they could only realize 
on by returning them through brokers to some place in the West, and get all 
they could out of them. The fall of the system and the consequent depression 
of business was keenly felt all over the State. Exorbitant values had arisen 
on every class of property, and when the shrinkage occurred, the losses were 
felt. No work was done on either the Central or the Terre Haute & Alton 
Railroads in Coles County ; but the effects of the rise and fall of values were 
noted here as well as elsewhere. Money was as scarce as in the earliest 
pioneer times, and for awhile it looked as though ruin would be the result. 
The prairies were, however, naturally very productive, and though emigration 
for awhile shunned the State as if struck by a pestilence, it soon began to rally, 
and before a decade of years had passed the enormous debt was safely provided 
for, and prosperity of a real kind again came over the land. 

It was not until after 1850 — more than twelve years after the first rail was 
laid on the track at Meredosia, on the Illinois River, on what is now the 
Wabash Railway — that the subject of railroads assumed a permanent, tangible 
form. In February of that year, the Chicago & Galena road was finished as 
far as Elgin, and a train of cars made the first trip from the city on the lake to 
the one on the Fox River. From this date, the erection of other roads began — 



342 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

this time, by individuals. The State had enough of this experience, and did 
not care to venture again into such schemes. The Terre Haute & Alton was 
among those sharing in the revival, and, as some work had been performed on 
it. chiefly on the eastern and western divisions, a new company took the work, 
and, in about four years" time, had it in running order. About the same time, 
the Illinois Central, through its magnificent grant of land from the General 
Government, came to a completion. These roads, crossing in Mattoon Township, 
formed the nucleus for a new town which capitalists were not slow to take advan- 
tage of, and the city of Mattoon was the result. Indeed, they had been watch- 
ing to see whei'e the crossing would be, and had located the town as soon as the 
question was decided, not waiting for the completion of the roads. As the his- 
tory of railroads in the county forms a separate chapter, we will only refer to 
them briefly here. 

When they were completed, much of the prairie-land in the township, and, 
in fact, all this part of the county, was yet open. It was still used for pastur- 
age, and the settlements confined exclusively to the timber. The railroads 
opened the country, however, and from that time until all was taken, it was 
rapidly settled. The growth of the country went steadily forward from the 
time of the improvement period until the late war. By that time, it was pretty 
thickly settled. Mattoon Township furnished her quota of men for the fray, 
and the city saw a regiment depart from her midst gathered almost wholly in 
the surrounding country. 

When the war closed, another season of great commercial prosperity ensued, 
owing to the sudden circulation of a vast amount of currency, based on the 
faith of the General Government. From this arose another series of fictitious 
values, and many farmers mortgaged their land to capitalists at a semi-annual 
interest of 10 per cent, expecting the "flush times" to continue. When the 
value of money came to the recognized standard, a shrinkage in values occurred, 
causing at the present time great difiiculty among many to pay debts contracted 
on the currency basis. Many farms in this part of Coles County have been 
sold to meet these claims, realizing little, if anything, more than the amount 
loaned. The eS"ect of all this will be to divide the large farms, and, ultimately, 
it will in that way be for the good of the county. The people of Mattoon 
Township are all- engaged in agriculture, and, if a steady purpose in this pur- 
suit is adhered to, no debts contracted beyond their ability to pay, and the 
same study devoted to that pursuit as is given to that of the law or medicine, 
abundant success is sure to crown the effort. Take it all in all, no occupation 
is so sure of a living, so independent and so safe as intelligent agriculture. 

We will now retrace our steps somewhat, and note the 

RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS. 

We have purposely omitted any mention of churches and schools in the 
foregoing pages, intending those subjects for a separate chapter. 



HISTORY OF COLES COUllTY. 343 

The first settler in Mattoon Township, " Uncle Charley," was a devout 
Methodist, and in his cabin the first praise and thanks to the Giver of all good 
were heard. Many of the others who came in 1827 were members of the 
same religious body, and, as soon as they could arrange their temporal matters, 
steps were taken toward the establishment of a church. James Graham, 
George M. Hanson, Miles H. Hart, Samuel Thompson, Barton Randall, 
George W. Rollins, and others among the early pioneers of Wabash Point, 
were in the local ministry of the Methodist Church, and all were earnest 
workers. The circuits were large, yet these men, laboring faithfully to supply 
their own wants, and avoid being any burden on the infantile settlement, went 
regularly on their rounds of preaching. 

The places of worship at first were in the pioneers' cabins centrally located, 
or, when the weather would permit, in some pleasant spot in the woods. The 
first benches were simply split logs, the flat side dressed smooth with a broad-ax, 
and supported by stout, short sticks for legs. No backs were made. When 
not in use, the benches were piled in a corner of the cabin-yard, until the time 
of service, when they were carried into the cabin and arranged to the best pur- 
pose that habitation furnished. The most interesting time among the adher- 
ents of this church was the regular camp- meeting. That was almost always 
held in the woods, as no cabin could hold a tithe of the crowd that ' gathered. 
A rude pulpit or platform was made, where three or four trees afibrded a good 
place for one, benches were made and arranged over the ground in front, and 
the place was ready. 

We have mentioned James Graham as one of the pioneer Methodist ministers 
in this part of the county. He was little a eccentric in his ways, and, withal, 
was not afraid to speak what he deemed right, even if the remarks touched 
closely on some weak brothers or sisters. A good anecdote is preserved of him 
by his colleague, Mr. Tremble, another local minister, yet living. As it illus- 
trates other modes of life, we think it well worth a place in the history of the 
county. ■ 

Among the class of wandering tradespeople, or peddlers, were a set known 
as the "wooden-clock peddlers." These were nearly all Yankees, regarded by 
the Southern people as a trafficking, tricky set, ready to sell a wooden nutmeg 
or any other sham. They, in turn, looked on the Kentuckians as a lazy, shift- 
less class, subsisting on hog, hominy and corn-bread, and willing tools in their 
hands. The peddlers did not scruple in the slightest to cheat them, or any 
one, whenever they could. The cheating, in their opinion, was all right ; the 
detection was what they feared. It seems these itinerant tradesmen had become 
a nuisance to the good residents of this part of the county, and had merited their 
disapprobation. Father Graham, among the rest, had suffered at their hands, 
and rather smarted under the treatment. 

Their common mode of procedure was first to canvass a district, selling all 
the clocks they could, warranting them for a year or any length of time suitable 



344 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

to their scheme. In a month or so, they would retrace their route, starting 
from where they began with one clock, pretty well regulated. It would run 
three or four days very well, and that was all they wanted. Part of the origi- 
nal agreement was to replace the clock first sold in case it did not fulfill the 
warrant. In that lay the trick. When they reached the first customer, they 
found, as they expected and hoped, that the clock did not fulfill the contract, and 
they at once replaced it with the one they had, charging a small fee for the 
transfer and repair. Taking the clock they obtained here, they went on to 
the next place, where the process was repeated, and so on till the end of the 
route. Foi" a few days the clocks went all ri^ht, and every one was delighted. 
But after awhile, when they, too, began to keep all sorts of time, the settlers 
began to grumble, and on comparing notes, discovered the cheat. The lesson, 
however, did not always bear fruit, as erelong they were caught on the wooden 
nutmeg, gilded jewelry and kindred appliances. They, like every one else, 
seemed often to forget that nothing good can be obtained for less than its value, 
however plausible the arguments in its favor may be. 

While Father Graham was holding one of his camp-meetings, he was some- 
what disturbed by one of these itinerant merchants, who not only being a cheat 
in business, was also a worthless character, and, as such, disturbed the meeting. 
Father G., after vainly endeavoring, by private means, to reform or get rid of 
him, determined to use decisive methods with him. At the morning service on 
the Sabbath, the good minister, in his prayer, closed as follows : 

" Lord, thy servants have been wonderfully annoyed by the bad actions 
and wicked conduct of a fellow known all over this camp-ground as ' Wooden- 
Clock Peddler.' Lord, if it is possible there be mercy for such a wicked 
wretch, may he find that mercy to-day, so that he repent of his great wicked- 
ness, turn about and do better. But, Lord, if he is, as he appears to be, a 
doomed wretch, why suffer him to stay here as a hindrance to Thy great work ? 
Lord, may he see that ' discretion is the better part of valor,' and leave 
forthwith. But, Lord God, if he will not leave, kill him a little on the spot, 
and save us from all wooden-clock peddlers forever. Amen ! " 

" If ever I saw," says Mr. Tremble, " the eyes of a congregation turned 
in search of an object, in was the eyes of that congregation, when they arose 
from their knees at the close of the prayer." But the "wooden-clock peddler" 
was seen only in the distance making rapid strides for some other locality. He 
was seen no more on that camp-ground. 

Enough adherents to this denomination had arrived by the year 1832 to 
warrant the erection of a house of worship. A site was chosen near the pres- 
ent Capp's Mill, and the people gathering together erected a log church. This 
was rather a primitive affair, and for awhile served its purpose. The settlement 
formed a kind of nucleus around which gathered three churches, not to speak of 
those in Mattoon. This fact, in a measure, caused the Church here to disband, 
and gather into three others, all out of the township, save one, which again, 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 345 

about five years ago, erected the brick church, known as the " Little Wabash 
Methodist Church." It is near the creek of that name, about four miles south- 
west of Mattoon. It is a very comfortable church, while near it was built a neat 
brick parsonage. The congregation numbers now about one hundred members. 

Among the early settlers were several professing the Baptist and Cumber- 
land Presbyterian creeds. The former of these built a church in Paradise 
Township, the first church there. It is referred to in the history of that Town- 
ship. The Cumberland Presbyterians have maintained pretty regular services 
since their emigration, commencing before 1830. They have attended church 
at Paradise generally until lately and did not build a church in Mattoon Town- 
ship until about 1873, when they completed a very neat frame edifice, at an 
expense of $1,600, which they now occupy. Theirs and the Little Wabash 
Methodist Church are the only two houses of worship in the township outside 
of Mattoon. 

It has been rather difficult to determine the first year school was taught in 
the AV abash Point settlement, and by whom. There was probably a school 
taught in a cabin in the winter of 1827—28, or the next spring. Mrs. Elisha 
Linder says she recollects going to a school, she thinks, the next summer, and that 
James Waddill was the teacher. Mr. Tremble says in his sketches, that about 
1831, Uncle Jack Houching, with a few other neighbors, undertook to burn 
brick, and built a small cabin for the benefit of the hands, just north of Mr. 
John Thomas' spring. The brick project proved a failure and the cabin was 
abandoned. The settlers not long after appropriated the cabin for school pur- 
poses and fitted it for that purpose. Long slab seats, puncheon floor, and a 
writing-desk from " end to end " at one side, were put in, the fire-place made 
safe, and, taking out one of the side logs, covered the place left with greased 
paper, and the house was ready. The teacher, Mr. Tremble, too, thinks was 
James Waddill. He was paid so much per scholar, the idea of taxation for 
education not then prevailing. The price per scholar depended on the number 
of scholars promised. If twenty-five or thirty were subscribed the price was 
generally $2.50 or $3 each. The teacher commonly "boarded 'round," a 
practice not now indulged in. Teachers were always hired by the quarter — 
three months — and when they were not paid in money, accepted common 
articles of barter. Capt. W. E. Adams, in his Centennial Address, refers 
to this school as follows: The first schoolhouse in that section was a 
cabin, built in 1830. Before it was occupied as a school, a man named 
Ledbetter moved his family into it. Soon after this, George Hanson went down 
to order him out. Ledbetter, however, was master of the situation, and chased 
Hanson off with a meat-ax. Hanson, in his flight, stubbed his toe and fell 
down, and in his fall Ledbetter split the back of his coat-tail open with the ax. 
After school had been held in this cabin a term or two, it was removed to the 
old log church, built on the site of Capp's mill or near it, and referred to in the 
history of churches just noted. This school was, it must be borne in mind, in 



346 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

Paradise Township. School was kept here, or in the cabins, until about 1844 
or 1845, when the first schoolhouse, built expressly for such purposes, was 
erected in Mattoon Township. That was about the dawn of the present school- 
system of Illinois. It had been agitated as early as 1827, renewed in 1835- 
3t:i. and a few subsequent Legislatures, but so distasteful was the idea of tax- 
ation to the southern portion of the State, that not until 1844—45 did the first 
permanent school law come into force. 

This schoolhouse was used until the present one, erected during the war on 
its site, superseded it. It was not alone possessor of the field long. Other 
parts of the township began to fill rapidly with settlers, especially when the 
railroads were opened, and, as necessity required, houses were built. The open, 
ing of high schools in Mattoon gave additional facilities for instruction, which 
have, in a measure, been well improved. 

EARLY MILLS, MILLING, ETC. 

We have incidentally noticed the grater and mortar, and described their 
modes of use. Following these primitive mills, we will notice those that suc- 
ceeded, viz., the hand and horse mills. The hand-mill was quite an improve- 
ment on the hominy-block. It consisted of two small circular stones, 14 or 16 
inches acros the face, and made something like the millstones of to-day. The 
lower stone was made fast to some timbers, with a hoop bent around it and pro- 
jecting some three or four inches above, forming a receptacle for the upper stone. 
This had a hole in the center, through which the corn was dropped by the hand, 
and was made to fit the under stone as well as the tools of the day could dress 
it. Near the outer rim, a hole was drilled into it about IJ inches across, and of 
the same depth. Into this an upright was fastened, its upper end secured in 
the ceiling, or to some immovable piece of timber. The lower stone had a J- 
inch hole, drilled from 2 to 3 inches in depth, in the center, and a round piece 
of iron driven firmly in. Its top projected about the same distance above. The 
top formed a pivot, and by the aid of a flat piece of iron, was cut to a half 
circle, with flanges on each end, so as to fit the notches cut in each side of the 
" runner." This iron was placed in the " eye " of the upper stone, generally 
called the "runner," with the concave side down. Its under side was so 
notched as to fit the pivot and balance, so that when forced around it kept its 
place. These simple arrangements completed the outfit. When meal was 
wanted, a measure of shelled corn was placed near, from which the corn was 
dropped in by the left hand, while the stone was turned by the right. It was 
given a rapid motion, and, if heav^', both hands were used, and an attendant 
dropped the corn into the center hole. At one place, the under stone was 
sometimes made slightly sloping, and a spout inserted in the iron rim surround- 
ing the stone, through which the meal was forced as it was ground. 

It will be observed by the reader, that this kind of mill is spoken of in the 
Bible, only that the handle was commonly a foot or more in height. It is as old as 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 349 

the world, almost, and, in ancient times, was almost always operated by women. 
The Savior referred to the custom of women grinding at the mill, when He said, 
" The one shall be taken and the other left." 

The horse-mill was simply the hand-mill made too large and heavy for one 
person to turn, and was rigged something after the manner a common circu- 
lar sweep is now made. To this a horse or mule was hitched and driven in a 
circle. It was often rigged with a pulley made of a leather band, and thereby 
given an increased motion. The hand-mill was also rigged with cogs and bands, 
and arranged so two or four men could turn it with a crank. It was toler- 
ably hard work, but it was often the case that, when properly rigged in this way, 
a bushel of grain could be ground in forty minutes. 

After the horse-mills came into use, the hand-mills were largely abandoned. 
They were too slow when a better way was known, and gradually came to be a 
a thing of the past. 

It is not stated that any horse-mills were built in Mattoon Township. The 
older parts of the county had them first, and to them the settlers were accus- 
tomed to go. Many of the old settlers now living, well remember getting up at 
o or 4 o'clock in the morning, preparatory to getting early to the mill, hoping 
to get there in advance of any one else, only to find, perchance, a whole " string 
of wagons ahead of them," as they express it, and being obliged to remain a 
day or two awaiting their turn. No water or steam mills were built in Mattoon 
Township till after the city was started, when they were erected there. As 
their history properly belongs to the history of the city, the reader is referred 
to that, where the subject, as concerns this township, is concluded. 

EARLY MAILS AND THE OLD STAGES. 

The first mail facilities enjoyed in this part of the country were indeed quite 
meager. Letters were few and far between, while newspapers were a rarity. 
The postage, was, in the early days of post-routes, governed by the distance the 
letter was sent, ranging from five to twenty-five cents. After the express com- 
panies started and began to carry them at a cheaper rate, the Government low- 
ered the cost from time to time until the present rate was established. The first 
post office, says Mr. Hiram Tremble, for the Little Wabash Point settlement 
was established at George M. Hanson's, who drew up a petition for one, obtained 
the necessary signatures and sent it on to Washington. Capt. Adams states 
also, that this was the first post oflBce in the county, and that it was established 
by George M. Hanson, who was the Postmaster. The office was named Paradise, 
in memory of Paradise Post Ofl^ce in Virginia, in the county where Mr. Hanson was 
born. These two were the only post offices of that name in the United States. 
The office was located here in 1829, and remained with Mr. Hanson about two 
years, when it was removed to the State Line Road, just then being opened. There 
it was kept by Mr. William Langston, who had what was known as the " Relay 
House, ' i. e., where the stage-horses were changed. This stage-road, or, more 



^50 HI8T0RY OF COLES COUNTY. 

properly. State Road, had formerly been a trace or trail, simply a bridle-patli, 
and led from Charleston to Slielbyville and on to Yandalia, the old State capi- 
tal. At first the mail was carried on horse-back, and made a weekly trip. 
The road passed through Mattoon Township, a little north of the present 
village of Paradise ; hence, when the post office was removed to Mr. Langs- 
ton's, it was still in Mattoon Township. It remained at the " Relay House " 
about two years, when it was taken to a little embryo town located on the 
Houtchin Farm, called Richmond, where G. W. Nabb had quite a store, in 
which the office was kept : Mr. Nabb, Postmaster. The office remained there 
till tlie Alton & Terre Haute Railroad was completed and Mattoon founded. 
There is considerable dispute among the old settlers concerning this post 
office and its frequent removals. We have given Mr. Tremble's recollections, 
which some pronounce correct, while others think a little differently. It 
seems impossible to reconcile all the statements regarding it. The subject is 
further treated in Paradise Township. 

After the stages began running, the mail was changed to a bi-weekly, then 
to a tri-weekly, and when the railroad came, to a daily mail. The old stage- 
coach was as much an improvement on the modes of travel preceding it, as the 
railway of to-day is an improvement on the coach. It was generally quite 
gorgeously painted, were made secure, and would carry just as many passen- 
gers as could get inside and on its top. This propensity to crowd stages has 
given rise in this day to the trite proverb, " There is always room for one 
more in a stage. ' They were drawn by four horses commonly, but in times of 
bad roads six or eight would be hitched to it. The driver was perched on top 
in a comfortable seat at the front, and nearly always. had a passenger with him. 
In times of good roads and fine weather, the driver's seat was often sought, as 
it gave such commanding views of the country. When the fierce prairie 
storms abounded, and winter set his icy hand on everything, it required a brave 
man to face the contest. Not unfrequently drivers perished at their post in 
unusually severe weather. The most interesting time was probably in the 
spring, when the ground was thawing out. The soil of the prairies would 
sometimes freeze two or three feet deep, especially in low. wet places, conse- 
quently the thawing-out process reached down that depth, where it com- 
monly met the perpetually wet undersoil, producing what was termed, in 
the common parlance of the day, a road with "no bottom." Then it was, 
indeed, interesting to the passengers. First one side of the coach wa,s 
down, then the other, alternately pitching the passengers right and left. 
About as soon as they got used to this mode of travel, the fore wheels would 
go suddenly down to the axle, and a forward lurch of the passengers followed. 
As they came up, the hind wheels went down, and a retrograde movement 
on the part of the passengers was the result. Relief from this alternate 
pitching arose only when an eminence was reached, or when the passengers 
walked. 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 351 

Sometimes exciting drives occurred, especially when the driver wanted to 
give a team " all the running they wanted.' He would ply them with the 
whip, and keep them at a full gallop until completely broken of their desire to 
run away. If the road was a few inches deep in mud, the condition of the pas- 
sengers, unless securely inclosed, can be well imagined. They came out of the 
race considerably sprinkled with the prairie soil. These days of the stage con- 
tinued till the opening of the railroads in 1855. when they it farther west, 
only in time to be obliged to give way to the fleet iron horse, destined in time 
to entirely supersede it. 

^ EAELY COURTS. 

From the first settlement until society became established, the settlers were 
generally a law unto themselves. They were too remote from the county seat 
before Coles County was erected, and settled disputes among themselves. They 
were exceeding honorable in their dealings with each other, and rarely did occa- 
sion require of them recourse to law. When it did. the punishment was sure 
and swift. They abhorred the petty vices, stealing, lying, etc., and would com- 
pletely ostracize any one found guilty. As all were poor and mutually depend- 
ent on each other, they were strict in their observance of the right, and would 
aid one another to the farthest extent of their ability, did he show any disposi- 
tion to try to do for himself. At every house-raising all did their part ; all 
wanted to, and should any one evince a disposition to shirk, he was made to feel 
his dependence whenever he wanted any help from his neighbors. Mr. Trem- 
ble says he does not remember of but one theft occurring in the neighborhood 
from the date of its first settlement in 1827, till after the first election in 1831. 
The theft and its punishment were characteristic of the times, and will suffice as a 
good illustration for the " court proceeding " of the day. 

One of the settlers had killed a beef, and, to secure the hide, bent down a 
small sapling, attached the hide to the toji branch, and allowed the tree to 
spring back to its place, bearing the hide aloft, far out of the reach of wolves 
or any other species of thieves. He never once thought of any person stealing 
it. and hence allowed it to remain in the tree-top over night. The next morn- 
ing it was gone. By what means, he could not determine, but he felt sure 
nothing but a human being could have secured it. He sent word to a few of 
the neighbors, and soon word was all over the settlement that a theft had 
occurred; something so unusual, that all left their work and gathered at the 
settler's cabin, determined to find the offender and give him his merits. By 
some means, the hide was tracked to its place of concealment. The guilty man 
was now to be apprehended, in case they could find him. He had been sus- 
pected, it seems, from the start, for, in a scattered community like this, every 
one was pretty well known, and two citizens were deputed to search his 
premises. Tiiey returned in an h(iur or so, with the information that they 
could not find him, though they had given the cabin and its contents a thor- 
ough examination. The settlers were not satisfied, and a second search was 



352 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

instituted, in which all took a part. Under tlie bed, a puncheon was found 
displaced, and a lot of rags and old quilts substituted. Removing these, the 
thief was discovered between the floor and the sill of the cabin. He was at 
once brought forth, and a trial held. The tears of his wife and children could 
not avail now : the pioneers were determined to punish theft whenever found. 
One among their number was appointed Judge, another Sheriff", another Prose- 
cutor, and a fourth, counsel for the defense. The trial was held under a large 
elm-tree in the east side of Dry Orove. Everything was conducted decorously, 
and. at its close, the prisoner was sentenced to receive thirty lashes on his 
naked back, at the hands of the Sheriff" — and that at the close of the next two 
hours. Court was held about a mile from the prisoner's cabin, and, before the 
execution of the sentence was carried into eft'ect, he begged to be allowed to see 
his family. This was granted, and the Sheriff" ordered to see him safely home 
and back. On the way to his cabin, he was informed by the officer that if he 
would leave the country that night, " hook and line."' with the promise never 
to be seen in those parts again, he would let him escape. The Sheriff" informed 
him that he must, however, run for life, for as soon as he started he (the 
Sheriff") would shout at the top of his voice, " Stop thief I Stop thief I' By 
this time, they were out of sight of the Court, and the Sheriff", pointing one way, 
remarked, "That's your course,"' and away he went at the top of his speed. 
The Sheriff" appeared to be after him, yelling with all his might. " Stop thief ! " 
The Court, of course, heard, and. immediately forgetting its dignity, started, 
pell-mell, in pursuit. The prisoner, however, had the start, and made good his 
escape. He was joined by his family afterward, and was never seen again in 
these parts. He had, doubtless, learned a lesson he never forgot, and, it is 
hoped, one he heeded. It was, undoubtedly, part of the plan to allow him to 
escape, but to so thoroughly intimidate him that others would heed the lesson. 

Whether the trial was just in its conclusions or not. and its mode of action 
commendable, can hardly be doubted, in the condition society then existed. 
Even were such methods adopted now, so thoroughly prompt and decisive, it is 
hardly an open question but that it would sometimes be better. After the 
county was organized, the processes of civil law were carried out, and, from 
that date down, we arc not informed of any impromptu courts and court pro- 
ceedings. 

We have thus far narrated the leading events in the history of Mattoon 
Township. The history of its organization is given in the general county 
history, and, as it did not occur until four years after Mattoon village was 
established, we will proceed directly to the history of the city, and. in like 
manner, note its important events. 

The town is the outgrowth of the crossing of the two railroads, and dates 
its be"'innin<' from that occurrence. When the original surveys for the rail- 
roads were made, it was predicted that a town would grow up at their crossing; 
but until the exact location of tlie routes was determined, no one ventured to 



HISTORY OF COLES COUllTY. 353 

purchase the ground and prepare for the expected village. It was at one time 
thought that the crossing would be made about two miles north of the site of 
Mattoon, and a town, to be called Arno, was laid out there by David A. Neal, 
of Massachusetts, ow^ner of the land. The survey was made by John Meadows, 
March 14, 1855. 

The routes of the roads were pretty certainly established by 1852, and in 
that year a company of persons, prominent among whom were Elisha Linder, 
Ebenezer Noyes, James T. Cunningham, Stephen D. Dole, John L. Allison 
and John Cunningham, purchased Section 13, in Township 12, and concluded 
to plat thereon a town. Two years elapsed before this was done, during which 
interval, Davis Carpenter, Usher F. Linder, H. Q. Sanderson, Harrison INIes- 
ser, Samuel B. Richardson, W. B. Puell, Josiah Hunt and Charles Nabb 
obtained an interest, and, by direction of all these persons, a town was laid out 
on December 12, 1854, by John Meadows, then County Surveyor. It must be 
borne in mind that the grant of land given by the Government in aid of the 
Illinois Central Railroad (a full history of which appears elsewhere), included 
only alternate sections in the belt, and that, to equalize the revenue from the 
remaining sections, the price was doubled. These men, then, paid for Section 
12 $2.50 per acre, which, considering the location, was certainly cheap enough. 

No sooner was the survey made than preparations for building began. Men 
did not wait for a sale of lots, but went to the proprietors and selected such lots 
as they desired, began building on them, with the understanding that they be 
allowed them as their choice on the day of sale ; that then they really be con- 
firmed in their purchase. The first building brought on the town site was an 
old structure moved here from La Fayette Township by Blueford Sexton, and 
used as a kind of lodging-house, boarding-house and toolhouse. Anything that 
would in any way shelter a person was acceptable, and was, as they termed it. 
"better than nothing." On the 28th day of March, 1855, the next spring 
after the survey. Mr. R. H. McFadden raised the first house erected on the 
site of Mattoon. It stands on its original site, on the south side of First 
street, just east of the Illinois Central Railroad track, and is now occupied by 
Mrs. Cartmell. The house, when built, contained two front rooms, one of 
which was intended for a store, and in it Flemming & Sexton opened the first 
stock of goods offered for sale in the town. This was done early in April, and 
by that time several other buildings were in course of erection. Afterward, 
Cartmell and Dr. Camp had a small drug store in the room, and when Mr. 
Noyes built a small brick store west of the railroad, the stock was moved there. 
Dr. Camp was deaf and dumb, and lived awhile in one lialf of Mr. Cunningham's 
warehouse, built on the north side of the Terre Haute & Alton Railroad, before 
the sale of lots occurred. The pioneer drug store was closed out in the little brick. 

Two days after Mr. McFadden raised his house, an enterprising individual 
set up a little board shanty a short distance south of him, and began selling 
whisky and other compounds. 



S'A HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

James M. True opened a store soon after. John Allison built a small land 
office ; Ebenezer Noyes a small brick building on the c<round now occupied bv 
Mr. Tremble's house, on West Charleston street : John Cunningham, a wai-e- 
house, in the eastern part of town, near where the car-shops are now situated. 
Michael Toby and others erected dwellings, and the lively times of frontier 
Western towns were indicated on all hands. Mr. Toby says he had been here in 
the fall before, looking over the ground, and decided to locate. In the winter, 
probably in January, he and a number of others met in a little shantv made of 
sod and plank, and placed near the crossing, then only located, where they ex- 
amined the map of the new town and selected lots. They were all known as 
'■ Improvement lots."' paid for by putting so much improvement on each lot, 
for which, as yet, the plat not being acknowledged and recorded, no deeds 
could be made. He went back to the Kickapoo timber, where he was living, 
and, before spring, had erected two barns for some of the residents there, and 
had the timbers for his house ready. He came again to Mattoon when the 
building began, and, that summer, assisted in erecting a good many structures, 
as well as building his own house. 

The sale of lots was extensively advertised by means of liand-bills sent all 
over the country. The loth day of May was the day set, and on the 14th, 
the proprietors went to Charleston, where they acknowledged the plat before 
Eli Wiley, a Justice, and had it recorded. 

On the next morning, a construction-train came over from Terre Haute, 
that railroad being ompleted this fiir, bringing a great number of buyers. All 
the people from the surrounding country came on horse-back to see the cars they 
had heard so much about, and which so many had never seen. 

The auctioneer was Samuel Adams, of Terre Haute. During the sale, 
various races occurred between fleet horses and the locomotive and between one 
another. Foot-racing, wrestling, leaping and other things of such hilarious 
nature were indulged among tlie attemlants who came to see. while not a few, 
especially among the ladies, were compelled to stand and hold their horses, 
there being no places to hitch, and no places, except in the unfinished houses, 
to find seats. The sale passed oft" very satisfactorily, a large part of the lots 
finding purchasers. Great expectations existed on the part of the majority of 
the purchasers; a large town, predicted they, would someday grace the high hill 
on whicli the city is built. All Western towns partook of the same spirit, but 
all were not successful in reaching their anticipatiot\s. The embryo village was 
by this time named. In casting about for a suitable synonym whereby it should 
be known to tlie world, the proprietors took into consideration the advantages 
accruing from the railroads, which had, indeed, been the cause of tlie town, and 
determined in .someway to perpetuate their constriii'tion. Tlie contracting firm 
for the Terre Haute i\; Alton road was Phelps, Mattoon I'c Barnes, of Spring- 
field, Mass. They had been extensive contractors, having built, in the previ- 
ous decade, the Rome & Watertown, the Buffalo & Corning and the Watertown 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 355 

iS: Potsdam Railroads. The second partner, Mr. William Mattoon, was very 
actively engaged here when they were building the Terre Haute &: Alton Road, 
and became quite well known along the line. In honor of him, the city of 
whicli we are writing received its name. He and Messrs. Dawsen and Messer 
were, in 1857-58, engaged on the towers of the suspension bridge at Cincinnati, 
and for a few years after, Mr. Mattoon was actively engaged in such pursuits. 
About 1859, he began to spend the most of his time at home, on his fine farm near 
Westfield, where he lived the remainder of his life, devoting himself to the raising 
fine stock. His herds of fine Devon cattle are said to have taken more pre- 
miums that any other herd in the United States. Mr. Mattoon died a few months 
ago. He will always be remembered by the old citizens here, whose city, as 
well as a street in Springfield, Mass., will perpetuate his memory. 

After the sale of lots on May 15, the greatest activity jjrevailed here in 
tlie erection of houses. Lodging and boarding were very hard to get. Every 
one was " full," and accommod:itions of every kind were brought into use. 
Labor was high, as it always is such times, and laborers flocked to Mattoon to 
share in the prosperity. Work on both railroads was carried on, and num- 
bers of men found temporary homes here. The inevitable results followed. 
Whisky was brought on by unlawful persons, and a saloon started. To the 
credit of one or two of the contractors, it is to be said, they gave some of the 
saloon -keepei's so long a time to leave — they left. But the temptation was strong 
and whisky, in one way and another, would come. It seems to be the inevitable 
follower of all frontier towns, and Mattoon was no exception to the rule. 

Though the town had now a few stores, several houses, and a great many in 
the course of construction, it lacked that commodity of all towns, a hotel. 
Messrs. Sanderson and Carpenter, two of the original proprietors, were, however, 
preparing to supply the deficiency. As labor was high here, they had the tim- 
ber all framed and put in readiness at Terre Haute, and on Sunday, June 30, 
1855, erected the first hotel — the Pennsylvania House — in the town. It stood 
on the south side of Broadway, just west of the present Mattoon N^ational Bank, 
occupying part of the ground now used by that building. It was already to 
put together when it arrived, and before night the frame was up. It had, how- 
ever, been constructed like many another building, a little weak, and after the 
third floor and the rafters were finished, the structure gave way, letting that 
floor and the rafters down upon the second. Props and braces were imme- 
diately applied, and the disaster remedied. Not a few of the people e.xpressed 
their disapprobation at the erection of the building on the Sabbath day, while 
some affirmed the falling of its upper story was a judgment sent on the builders 
for desecrating the day. The building probably fell because it was poorly con- 
structed. Many persons stoutly affirm that this hotel was raised on the Fourth 
of July. All were agreed that it was raised on Sunday. The writer of these 
pages, with several others, made a calculation, based on an invariable rule in 
mathematics, and found that the Fourth of July in 1855 came on Wednesday. 



356 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

It was also found correct by several tests. The fact was then developed that it 
was raised on the Sunday previous, and opened with a big dinner on the Fourth. 
The hotel opened with a good run of custom, and for many years did a good 
business. Old people well remember it, and in its day it did an important work 
in the growth of the town. It gave way, finally, to the demands of trade, and 
the erection of better buildings, and was removed to give place to the present 
brick houses occupying its site. 

While on the subject of hotels we will notice some of the subsequent ones 
erected. 

The same summer the Pennsylvania House was built, another hotel, known 
as the Union House, was constructed on the ground now occupied by the Opera- 
house. It was erected by a man named Bain, and was used for the stage office 
until the connection between each railroad was finished. This hotel was not 
completed till fall. It was known as the Kentucky House, and was kept by 
Mr. W. H. K. Pile, and after him by John Davis. Like the Pennsylvania 
House, it became a favorite stopping-place and enjoyed a good reputation, and 
it, too, like its predecessor, gave way before the march of improvement and is 
among the things of 'the past. 

In the spring of 1857. Mr. Morgan Griffin came to Mattoon to superintend 
for a Mr. Radcliff, of New York, the building of the Essex House. Mr. Ebene- 
zer Noyes, owned the most of the original plat of the town lying west of the 
Illinois Central Railroad, and gave Mr. R. the lot on which to erect the house. 
He was also to build brick business houses on the remainder of the block to 
the west end of the street. Mr. Noyes had about this time purchased Section 
14 from the Railroad Company, intending to lay it out in lots. He had 
purchased for his brother. Dr. Frank Noyes, Section 15, in 1852, and had 
platted that in large lots. Between him and the proprietors of Section 13, 
the original plat of the city, arose an estrangement, resulting in his pur- 
chasing Sections 14 and 15, and platting them. The residents have always 
noticed the "jog," or set-off in the streets running west from the end of Broad- 
way. This was done when Mr. Noyes had the plat made. In the extreme 
efforts made between the East and West Towns to secure the center of town, 
considerable " wire-pulling "' was indulged, resulting in not the best of feeling. 
This, however, existed more between the proprietors, in their endeavors to 
further their own interests, than between the people, who cared more for a suit- 
able location than anything else, leaving the ascendency of either side to reg- 
ulate itself. In the erection of the Essex House, Mr. Radcliff failed to carry 
out the plan, and, after the walls were built, it came into the possession of Mr. 
Noyes, who completed it, built the rear addition, opened it to the public in 185y, 
and managed it several years. Mr. Daniel Messer, the present landlord, assumed 
charge in 1869. The house has always been a prominent stopping-place, 
situated as it is at the junction, and being occupied by the depot and ticket- 
office. 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 357 

The hotels of after years may be briefly noticed. When the Essex House 
was built, it was the third brick building in town, others, however, began to 
appear, when the war of the rebellion came, stopping almost all operations until 
after its close. The other hotels erected are the City Hotel, the Everett House, 
now unoccupied, and the present Dole House. This latter is situated on the south- 
east corner of Broadway and First street, and was begun in 1868, by a stock com- 
pany. Not long after, the Dole Brothers obtained control, and completed it in 
1871. ft was opened as the Mattoon House, under the management of John 
W. Hawley, now of the Everett House, St. Louis. As the Dole Brothers were 
the principal builders of the hotel, and, as it was opened by them, the name 
was changed in honor of them. On the 15th of March, 1877, Stubbins 
Brothers took charge of it, and, on the 18th of December, lb78, purchased the 
building. They have remodeled and improved it, and have secured a large 
part of the traveling public. A. few other small hotels and boarding-houses 
complete the list. None, however, but the Dole, Essex and City Hotels are 
run upon the regular hotel plans, and these three may be said to transact the 
principal business in their line. 

Going again to the early history of the time, we find the summer of 185-') 
one of great aciivity. Conley and Hitchcock opened a store among those that 
we have mentioned ; the post office was established, and Mr. True made Post- 
master, with Mr. Thomas E. Woods as Deputy : a small schoolhouse was- 
erected on East Broadway, and the life of Mattoon, in its various phases, was 
fully begun. Mr. McFadden and others yet living in town, state that, before 
the building season had closed, upward of one hundred buildings were to be 
seen, all of which were occupied that winter. 

Through the winter, school was maintained in the small frame house 
alluded to. Religious services were conducted, principally by the Baptists, in 
each other's houses, or in the sclioolliouse, while a few ministers of other 
denominations came to see what could be done for their churches, and occasion- 
ally held meetings in some of the houses, or in the schoolhouse. The railroads 
were working to complete connections between the two incomplete ends, and 
the continued, active life of the town hardly abated any for the cold weather 
experienced. Before the holidays, the Terre Haute & Alton completed the 
remainder of their line, and, by January 1, 1856, trains were running from 
Chicago to Cairo, over the Illinois Central. 

Some of the business houses were built in the northeast part of town, not 
far from where Mr. John Cunningham had his warehouse, and where a stren- 
uous effiart was made to secure tlie center of the business portion. Here Mr. 
Cartmell opened a small drug store, with Dr. Gamp, the first disciple of Escu- 
lapius in the town, as partner. The inexorable law of business could not be 
broken here, and the center of town insisted on remaining near the railroad 
crossing. The holders of property in the eastern part of the village saw this, 
finally, and gave way to the stern demands of trade. 



358 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

The next spring, building began anew ; business bouses, dwellings and 
shops began to appear. The first permanent brick store in town was erected 
for True and Cunningham, by Mr. Michael Toby, then a builder, and, before 
winter, it was ready for furnishing. It is yet standing on the southeast corner 
of Broadway and Second street, and is now occupied by the meat-shop of Mr. 
John Hunt. It was the only brick built that season. Several stores were, 
however, erected, and more dwellings commenced, all of which were not com- 
pleted before winter came ; a few other shops were built, and Mattoon was 
coming to the front among Western towns. Another most important addition 
appeared in June, an adjunct tliat all Western towns demand, and that all 
get nearly as soon as the}- are started. We refer to the newspaper. In June, 
of that year, the Gazette appeared, setting forth the merits of the town and 
advertising its advantages. This was started by Mr. R. W. Houghton, on the 
7th day of June, and, from its Columns, considerable is gleaned respecting the 
young city, which is given in extracts from the paper published in the sketch 
of the press, further on in the narrative. The editor thinks the population of 
Mattoon can safely be put down ;it TjOO persons, ami is certain of that number 
in an issue a year after. 

That summer, the Baptists erected a small frame house of worship, and. 
during the winter, held regular services therein. They allowed other denomi- 
nations to use the little church when they had no minister. The small frame 
schoolhouse had become entirely too small now for the increased juvenile popu- 
lation, and a larger and more comfortable brick structure took its place. It, 
however, was not erected till 1857 (some assert, one year later), and in the 
interim, the winter of 1856-57, school was taught in a room over Mr. True's 
store and in parts of some unfinished buildings. 

In the spring of 1857, ground was broken for the Essex Honse, which, 
when completed, was the largest and finest house in town. It was not, how- 
ever, finished for two years. Its history has already been given, and need 
not be repeated hero. 

Tills summer, the Methodists and Cumberland Presbyterians organized con- 
gregations, and began to hold meetings in each other's houses, in empty store- 
rooms, or in a small hall that had been completed. A year or so after, 
they erected their hou.ses of worship, and were joined by other denomina- 
tions, the history of whose operations is given in connection with that of their 
churches. 

In May of this year. 65 votes were cast for the incorporation of the town 
and 25 votes against the measure, making a total of '.H) voters in the town 
limits. Assuming the usual ratio of voters to the population, this would give 
Mattoon fully as many inhabitants as the editor of the Gazeite predicted, a 
year before, in his first issue of his paper. 

In -Iiine, of this year, the limits of the town were greatly extended by the 
addition made by Mr. Ebenezer Noyes. He, as ha.s been noticed, purchased 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 359 

Section lo for his brotlier, in 1852, at the land-sale when the original plat of 
Mattoou was purchased, and had this laid out in acre tracts. Some of these 
liad now been sold, as "great expectations" were fully indulgeil in by tlie 
inhabitants of the embryo city. He purchased Section 14 from the Central 
Railroad, at a good price per acre, as the officers of that corporation were fully 
alive to the prospects of Mattoon and the nearness of their section of land. 
As has been intimated, Mr. Noyes and the proprietors of the east side of town 
could not agree: and, when he platted Section 14, he made a "jog" in all the 
streets, and gave new names to those running west. Hence, when Broadway 
reaches the western limits of the old plat, it suddenly turns northward and 
«oes on west under the name of Western avenue. All streets in this addition 
conform to this rule, and cause no little wonderment on the part of strangers 
wlio do not understand the cause of the dift'erence. 

The life of Mattoon from this date on dow'n to the war bears with it but 
little history. Several churches were erected : a good schoolhouse built in each 
ward, an account of which appears in the history of education and religion 
further on in these pages ; a few brick stores were built ; one or two mills and 
an elevator or two appeared ; a bank opened ; dwellings were erected in all 
parts of town, and its life varied but little from the regular growth of all 
Western towns. 

In looking over the files of newspapers of this period, the G-a^ette being 
joined by the Journal, several interesting items are gleaned. 

We learn that a fire company was organized in March, 1861, and that the 
Council appropriated §100 for buying three dozen buckets and other appli- 
ances. The following were the officers of this company : Ebenezer Noyes, 
President; H. F. Kelley. First Director; P. J. Drake, Second Director; 
Carson Knight, Secretary ; Edw. A. Thielens, Treasurer ; B. N. Skelton, 
G. F. Bateman and John Nabb, Standing Committee : Rufus Noyes, Mes- 
senger. 

Whatever service this or any succeeding fire company performed is not recorded 
by the papers. It is a fair inference, however, that this, or whatever companies 
succeeded it, did their share in putting out fires. The city has never been well 
supplied in this respect, and to-day no organization exists, nor is there any pro- 
vision made to support one. A fire starts, and is simply allowed to burn out. 
An expensive fire department might not be advisable ; but an organization 
could be supported by volunteers, a hook, ladder and bucket brigade be easily 
kept up, and much valuable property saved. It is argued that it is cheaper to 
let the buildings burn, and get the insurance. That will be practically demon- 
strated, some time in a dry season, if a fire starts in the west end of town, 
and, fed by a strong west wind, burns out the entire business part of Mattoon. 
It has been done in other towns, and may occur here. 

VVhile on this subject, it might be interesting to note briefly some of the 
principal conflagrations that have occurred here. 



•360 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

In the sketches following these pages, some account of the destruction by 
fire of mills, elevators and such structures is given. Here we will notice what 
pertained to the residence and 'uusiness portion. The papers chronicle the 
destruction, on Sunday morning, January 1, 1866, of a house owned by Mr. 
E. Regan, whose loss was nearly $5,000 ; his insurance a little over $3,000. 
The same fire destroyed the stock of Mr. Fitzgerald, a baker and confectioner, 
whose loss was $2,300, but whose insurance was $4,300. Everharty & Co. 
lost $500, less the insurance of $300 ; while others lost, in the aggregate, 
$5,000. 

The Journal of September 4, 1867, records the loss of Hart & Co.'s livery- 
stable, on August 26, with all its contents, including seventeen horses, eight 
carriages and buggies, and a mow full of hay. The loss was fully $6,000, on 
which only a small insurance was carried. Many of the horses belonged to 
citizens of the city. The fire spread from the stable to Col. H. L. Hart's 
residence, immediately south, which was also burned. Fortunately, the wind 
blew from the north, keeping the flames away from Broadway, else the loss 
might have been dreadful. 

The same issue of the Journal records tlie destruction, on the Wednesday 
night before, of the residence of Mr. Ephraim Orr, in the northe.ast part of the 
city. The Journal states that the building was known as the " Cartmell House," 
built by Mr. Edward Cartmell in 1855 ; also, that in it Gen. True kept a stock 
of goods and the first post ofiice in Mattoon. Gen. True was Postmaster, while 
the editor, Capt. T. E. Woods, was Clerk, and Deputy. The loss on this 
building was about $1,500. 

Under date of November 9, 1867, the Journal chronicles another destruc- 
tive conflagration — this time, the large agricultural warehouse owned by Ebene- 
zer Noyes. It was probably set on fire by sparks from a locomotive passing at 
night, and it was some time before it was discovered. Two of Mr. Noyes' sons 
narrowly escaped burning, as they were asleep in the building at the time, and 
did not awaken until near too late to save tliemselves. One of them, Eben, 
was badly burned before he was rescued. The building was a huge three-story 
frame, and made a great light. The loss on the building was $6,000, and on 
the stock was $3,000. The insurance was about $5,000, leaving a large loss. 

Other prominent fires were the destruction of John Cunningham's elevator, 
the elevator just north of the Essex House, a mill or two, nearly all of which 
are mentioned in a chapter devoted to that subject. 

Last winter, during the excessive cold weather, five serious fires occurred, 
almost one after the other. As no organized effort toward the extinguishment 
of fires exists, they were allowed to burn out. The same occurred in the montli 
of February, when Mr. Walsh lost his dwelling. 

Aside from the calamity of fire suffered in Mattoon, the place has, once or 
twice, been visited by severe storms, one of which deserves mention. In Sep- 
tember, 1864, a great storm occurred, occasioning a very serious loss of prop - 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 361 

erty, and, in some instances, several persons injured. The Journal, of Sep- 
tember 28 gives the following account of the storm : 

" This place was visited, on last Friday evening, by one of the most terrific 
storms ever known in this part of the State. Dense, reddish-black clouds made 
their appearance, a little north of west, about 3 o'clock, and in less than ten 
minutes the storm burst upon us in its wildest fury, tearing down awnings, 
blowing down and unroofing buildings, and scattering about everything mova- 
ble. The flving dust was so thick and the darkness so great, that one might 
well imagine that the very clouds had descended to the earth and lifted every 
particle of loose earth. The damage in town was great, yet we do not suppose 
it more than equals that in the country, where houses were unroofed and fences 
and corn leveled to the ground in great number. The following is the list of 
the principal injuries, as far as we have been able to learn, within the corpora- 
tion limits : 

•• M. E. Church, two-thirds unroofed and windows and plastering much 
broken. Damage, about $1,500. 

•• Smoke-stacks of Thomas Jennings" woolen-factory and T. Alexander's 
flouring-mill blown down. 

•• Mr. Hutton's new two-story frame house, partly finished, leveled to the 
ground. 

'• Fence to Smith & Jones' lumber-yard blown down and thousands of feet 
of lumber and shingles blown away and broken up. 

" Shed, formerly warehouse to Monroe's store-building, blown down. 

•■ The new brick of Dole Brothers was much damaged, the window-facings 
of tlie east and south sides and several feet of the wall being blown down. 

•• The wooden awnings in front of Wilson, Bro. & Co., P. J. Drake and two 
or three other establishments on the east side of the Illinois Central Railroad, 
torn from their fastenings and hurled into the street. 

" In the west part of town, Mr. Culloni's house was twisted oft" the founda- 
tion, nearly all the furniture broken, and William Waggoner's house was 
wrested from its foundation and badly smashed up. 

" John Walkup's new two-story house, unfinished, moved from its founda- 
tion and badly injured, as was also the residence of J. Vallandigham. 

" The smoke-stacks of Muchmore & Co.'s planing-mill and Jones' flouring- 
mill were blown down, and it was with great difficulty the planing-mill could be 
prevented from burning. 

'• Chapin k Pilkington's lumber-yards badly scattered, and much lumber 
broken. 

•• The houses of P. Hennessy and R. M. Bridges were both leveled to the 
ground. 

•' The Essex House was badly damaged, all the chimneys and two-thirds of 
the iron roof of the north side ;<tripped oft', and the whole upper story exposed to 
the furious rain which followed. Sheets of iron ten feet long were carried more 



362 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

than a hundred yards, one of which was hurled througli the show-window in 
Mr. Drake's store. 

" The stairway leading to the second story of Francis & Drake's store, 
which was on the west side of the building, with a high board fence on the 
north and a two-story brick on the west, was lifted from its place and hurled 
back nearly twenty feet, the wind having sucked down and lifted it out. 

•' Chimneys, out-houses, stables and fences were blown down by the score 
all over town, and a number of windows broken by flying fragments. Thirty 
or forty feet square of the roof of the M. E. Church was carried, rafters and 
all. completely over the residence of Mr. Ellis, just east of the church, and 
fell a little south of the church, mashing down over seventy-five feet of fencing, 
knocking off a chimney and breaking twenty-four panes of glass out of his 
windows. About twenty feet of the roof was taken nearly one hundred yards 
almost due south of the church. 

" In the country nine miles west, the two-storv residence of James Munson 
was moved from its foundation and badly racked, and that of Jesse Armentrout 
entirely demolished, as were several other buildings in the same neighborhood. 
Corn fields and fences were all leveled, and in many fields scarcely a blade is 
left, and even the corn is blown oflf the stalks. 

'■ The residence of Thomas Meredith, three miles west, was also blown over 
and one of the corner-stones moved ten feet. 

'' The track of the storm seems to have been almost directly west to east, 
and about nine miles wide, having left its terrible marks all the way from Hills- 
boro to Paris, over one hundred miles. We understand that the M. E. Church 
and several other buildings were unroofed at the former place, and from the 
Paris Beacon and Blade we learn that a part of the steeple of the M. E. 
Church was blown off, falling through the roof and damaging the building about 
If 1,500. The Presbyterian Church was also severely injured, many other 
houses blown down, and much other damage done at that place. 

" We have not learned of much damage being done at Charleston and other 
towns along the line, but have no doubt it has seriously injured all towns lying 
in its pathway. " 

A few other storms have swept over the prairies of Coles County in the 
years since it was settled, but none so fierce as the one recorded are mentioned 
in its annals. 

We must not omit a mention of the part the city took in the last wai-. Mat- 
toon and its surrounding populace were largely in favor of a subjugation of that 
part of the Union favoring its dismemberment, and many of her bravest citizens 
left home and dear ones to protect a nation's honor, and save the flag all loved 
so well. The war of the rebellion opened in 18()1. The first company to 
respond to the call for troops from this part of Coles County left Mattoon on 
April 15, 1861, for Springfield, where they were to be mustered into service 
and to be attached to their regiment. Before their departure, they were served 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 36.? 

with a sumptuous dinner at the Pennsylvania House by Mr. McKee, the pro- 
prietor, and were presented with a flag by the ladies of Mattoon, and each officer 
with a bible and each private with a testament by the Masonic orders in town. 
The committee of ladies who presented the flag was composed of the following 
persons : Misses Kate McMunn, Mollie Tobey. Helen Messer, Sarah Aldrich 
and Mrs. Maggie Duncan and Mrs. McKee. Mrs. L. Villie Malone made the 
presentation speech to the boys, who responded through Ijieut. Edward True, 
as Capt. James Monroe was then in Springfield. 

Capt. Monroe, while at Camp Yates, on April 25, was presented by his 
friends, through C. Knight, with a fine sword. 

" On Tuesday, May 14," says the Journal of that year, "a regiment was 
organized and sworn in by Col. Grant, a camp established and named Camp 
Grant." No allusion to the famous man who afterward led the armies of the 
Union is made. His prowess had not yet developed. 

The regiment remained here, drilling for some time, but as soon as it was 
fully ready it was sent to Si)ringfield and from there to the service. 

While the regiment was encamped near Mattoon, the town was generally 
rather lively. Soldiers, out on a short pass, not uncommonly got rather too 
much whisky in them, and, in that condition, were not always what they should 
be. Civilians known to be favorable to the Southern States were not unfre- 
([uently compelled to subscribe to oaths or other declarations, not at all in con- 
formity with their sentiments. No riots occurred in Mattoon, as in Charleston, 
or, at least, none worthy of record, and, as the veil of peace is now drawn over 
all these scenes, we do not care to lift it, but think that they, as well as several 
tragedies occurring in Coles County, are better forgotten. 

We will now retrace our steps somewhat, and, in a measure, note some- 
thing of the municipal life of Mattoon. The city was incorporated under the 
general law of the State, in June, 1857, when 65 votes were cast in its favor, 
and 25 against. It continued under that organization, states our authority — 
an advertising sheet issued by Jerry Toles, an insurance and real estate agent. 
May 1. 1866 — until 1859, when a city charter was obtained from the Legis- 
lature, which, as amended, was in force when the aforesaid sheet was published. 

From an examination of the newspapers of 1860 and 1861, we learn that 
an election was held in Mattoon on Monday, April 1, 1861, under the provis- 
ions granted in the new charter during the winter previous. From the 
provisions of the charter, we learn that the word " Town " shall be changed to 
" City," and " Trustees" to " Councilmen." Evidently the advertising sheet 
of Mr. Toles is a little premature in its statements. As he issued his sheet for 
advertising purposes, it is natural to suppose he desired to clothe Mattoon with 
the title of a city as early as possible. The town charter was liberally 
amended in 1859, but no city created, as is shown in the charter quoted. 
This charter, in its second article, provided that " members of the City Council 
shall have had six months' residence, be a bona-fide freeholder at the time of 



364 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

his election, and shall have paid a corporation tax in said city during the pre- 
ceding year. Whenever he ceases to be a freeholder in said city, his office 
becomes vacant. 

The election was ordered to be held annually thereafter, on the first Monday 
in April, when a President, six members of a City Council, City Clerk, Treas- 
urer and Street Supervisor should be elected. 

All persons were entitled, by the charter, to vote for State officers who 
" have paid a corporation tax to tiie city during the year immediately pre- 
ceding the election, and have resided in the corporation ninety days previous to 
the election, were entitled to vote for city officers." 

The Police Justice and Constables were each to be elected for four years. 

The tax and labor collected from persons on the west side of the Illinois 
Central Railroad was to be distributed there, while that on the east side 
was to be distributed there. The (jrazette, in its first issue after the elec- 
tion, gives the following account of it: "Below we give the result of 
the municipal election on last Monday. We did have some conscientious 
f-cruples as to publishing the particulars of the bungling affair, but, since we 
heard of the double election which our Paris neighbors held on the same day, 
we have concluded that the Parisians can't ' poke fun at us' over our blunders, 
and, consequently, we may as well publish. " 

The new city charter as amended — declaring who were and who were not legal 
voters, which clause did put a flea in somebody's ear — very mysteriously got lost 
while in the President's keeping, just at the time when the first election under it 
was to be held, and as it was the only legally attested copy of the charter in the 
possession of the Board, as a matter of course the opponents of the new fran- 
chise took the opportunity to annul the election. After sweating and quarrel- 
ing on the morning of the election till nearly 11 o'clock, the Board having 
declared the election postponed, the " sovereign " people concluded to have an 
election of their own. An election was therefore immediately called, clerks and 
judges of election duly appointed, and the voting began. The voting was, 
of course, done indiscriminately as far as having paid taxes was concerned. 
The following is the result : 

For Police Justice, James T. Smith ; Police Constable, James L. Taylor ; 
President, James Monroe. City Council — T. C. Patrick, Samuel Smith. D. 
M. Turney. L. Chapin, D. C Higginson and C. A. Powell. Clerk. B. N. 
Skelton : Treasurer, A. Hasbrouck ; Street Supervisor. B. F. Keely. 

The vote for and against license was small. For license, 80 ; against 
license, 77. 

Mattoon remained under this form of government, with various alterations 
made as the city grew, until the last week of February, 1879, when at an 
election tlie charter was so changetl that the city passed under the general in- 
corporation law of the State, and under that law is now governed. The prin- 
cipal changes relate to the election of officers, many of which are now ap- 



HISTORy OF COLES COUNTY. 367 

pointed, and to the redivision of the city into wards. This latter move is now 
agitated, but it is not likely to be adopted for some time. The governing power 
still rests in the Council, and in place of the people electing several subordinate 
officers, that body appoints them. 

Thus far in this narrative, we have omitted any mention, save incidents, of 
mills, manufactories or the general business of the city, as well as its churches, 
schools, newspapers and societies, leaving them for separate articles. In this 
way more complete, and, at the same time, more condensed, descriptions can be 
given, and also in a better and more explicit manner. They show much of the 
history of the city, but are not given with that view being intended for the ob- 
jects they treat. 

We shall, therefore, leave the narrative of the city and devote the remainder 
of this history to the subjects we have mentioned. 

ELEVATORS, MILLS, MANUFACTORIES, ETC. 

John Cunningham's elevator, built in the spring of 1855, before the sale of 
lots, was the pioneer of such enterprises in Mattoon. It was, a« time event- 
ually proved, too far from the natural center of town, the railroad crossing, and 
■was finally abandoned. Four or five years after, Mr. Cunningham built a sub- 
stantial brick warehouse north of the railroad crossing, on the west side of the 
Central track, and just south of where Moneypenny's mill now stands. This 
was quite a firm building, and was one of the best to follow in chronological 
order the Essex House. It stood till Sunday night, March 19, 1865, when it 
was destroyed by fire. It appears to have been the principal elevator in town 
until it was destroyed. 

The elevator of Jennings & Co., still standing, comes next in the annals of 
the town. It was built about the close of the war by the present proprietors, 
who are the oldest grain merchants in Mattoon. One of them and Mr. H. M. 
Tremble, built a small warehouse where the express office now stands — the 
second enterprise of the kind in town. It was a small building, and was used 
as such for a few years and then removed. South of it stood the old pork- 
house of O'Connell & Co., brought from near Cincinnati, the pioneer enter- 
prise of that kind in the city. It was burned after a few years of service. 
Near it was the large well over which the city and Central Railroad had such 
a vexatious lawsuit. The controversy over the well was finally settled, and it is 
not at present regularly used. 

Just before Mr. Cunningham built his brick elevator, Luther Miller moved 
an old porkhouse from Terre Haute, Ind., and set it up north of the proposed 
site of Mr. Cunningham's elevator. About 1861, the porkhouse came into the 
hands of Hudnot & Co.. who remodeled it, and opened a hominy-mill in the 
building. This they operated with varying success until 1864, when the 
building came into the control of Cox & Miller, who again changed its interior 
and opened a plow-factory in it. This was conducted for two or three years, 



368 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

when Capt. Hinkle obtained possession of the building, and opened a corn- 
meal mill in it. This enterprise he continued two years, when he retired, and 
the present parties obtained control. Mr. Moneypenny now operates the 
meal-mill and has a very fair trade. 

The Pacific Mill, noted in the papers as the pioneer mill of Mattoon, is in 
the southwest part of town, on the St. Louis Railroad. It was built in 1862. 
by Charles Jones, who operated it four years. It remained idle then for more 
than a year, when it was purchased by Ira and D. D. James, who re-opened it 
and operated it until the summer of 1878. when, the business not proving 
profitable, they discontinued it. The mill .is now idle, but yet in the hands 
of the Messrs. James. 

Cox's Mill, a little west of Moneypenny's mill, is at present unoccupied. 
It was built by Steadman & Demuth, in 18G9 or 1870, who operated it two or 
three years, when it came into the possession of Hiram Cox, the present owner. 

James' Elevator was built in 1868, by Ira aind D. D. James, who have been 
more or less connected in the grain trade in Mattoon many years. They have 
controlled their own elevator until their failure in 1874, when it and the Pacific 
Mill, operated by them since 1866, went into possession of Greer & Co., for 
whom they now operate the elevator. 

The City Mill — sometimes called Union Mill — was built in 1862 and 1863. 
by T. C. Alexander & Co., at an exf)ense of $12,000. They operated it 
until 1864, when Col. J. Richmond purchased one-half interest in it, which 
he sold, in 1867, to Mr. Curtis. Under his control, it was run till February. 
1875, when Col. Richmond and J. H. Clark bought the mill. In the fall. Col. 
Richmond purchased the entire concern and has been operating it since. It is 
the principal flouring-mill in the city, and does the majority of grinding for 
the country about Mattoon. 

It might be well before leaving this subject to notice a few of the elevators 
and mills that have been destroyed by fire. Mr. Cunningham's elevator has 
already been noticed. A large elevator was built just north of the Essex House 
by Richards & Co., about 1860. It stood only a few years, when it was entirely 
consumed by the relentless element. It was at once rebuilt by the same firm, 
who sold it to Day, Sprague & Co., who did business there till about 1873, when 
the same calamity befell it. No attempt was made to rebuild the third time. 

About the same year it burned, the Watkins Mill was erected, just west of 
the foundry, by James Watkins. After running it about two years, the mill 
caught fire, and, in spite of its unusual facilities for extinguishing fives, it suf- 
fered the fate of some of its fellows. 

These mills are the principal ones erected in the city. A few others have 
been built, but, proving unprofitable, were in a few years converted to other 
uses. 

The first machine-shop or foundry was built by James Wolfe, in 1868 or 
1864. He kept it about three years, and sold to Charles Pomeroy, who con- 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 369 

tinued it till the Lenox Foundry was built, in 1872, when he moved it away. 
This latter foundry was built by William Lenox, the present proprietor, the 
year referred to. It is the only enterprise of the kind in town, and has a very 
fair custom. 

The largest machine-shops in Mattoon are those operated by the Indianapolis 
& St. Louis Railway. They were built here in 1870, and were brought to 
Mattoon on a guarantee of that city of a bonus of $60,000 in bonds. The 
vote on this question was held on April 4, 1870, and was decided by 517 votes 
in favor of the appropriation to 10 against it. The bonds are payable in three 
equal installments, one-third in teh years from the date of issue ; one-third in 
fifteen years, and one-third in twenty years. The shops were removed from Litch- 
field soon after the bonds were guaranteed, and have since been operating. 
They are in the northeast part of the citv. on ground donated them, occupying 
several acres. 

From a statement of the Master Mechanic regarding their capacity and 
operations, the following items are taken : 

The machine-shops are 110x204 feet, with eight repair-pits. The power- 
room, 40x50 feet, adjoins this building. The store-room is also adjoining, and 
is 40x60 feet in size. The car-shops are 85x204 feet in size, with six repair- 
tracks, and, with the machine-shop, get their power from an 80-horse power 
engine. The blacksmith-shop is 5(1x150 feet, has sixteen fires and is furni.shed 
with one 1.500-pound steam hammer. The boiler-shop is 50x80 feet, and has 
three repair-tracks. The paint-shop is 44x228 feet, and has two repair-tracks. 
There are twenty-one stalls in the I'oundhouse. It is furnished with one of 
(rreenleaf's Machine Works turn-tables. The transfer-table is 27x180 feet, 
and connects with the tracks leading into thediiferent shops. The tank and oil 
room is 40x40 feet, has four water-tubs, with a capacity of 60,000 gallons each, 
filled from a reservoir one-half mile south of the works. The buildings are all 
of brick, with slate roofs, .*ave the paint-shop, which is of frame. 

All are heated by steam save the paint and blacksmith shops. The shops 
in their arrangement are unsurpassed in the West, and turn out nothing but the 
best of work. Over two hundred men are employed here, in addition to nearly 
one-half that number employed in the repair-shops at Terre Haute and East 
St. Louis. The monthly pay-roll at Mattoon is about $23,000, the material 
used each month costing about one-half that sum. The money distributed at 
these shops is in a measure nearly all spent in the city. Could other factories 
be induced to come hei'e, and by their work aid in affording employment and 
business, Mattoon would be greatly benefited by it. 

A few other factories have been in existence here. We refer more particu- 
larly to the woolen-factory, operated from the close of the war until 1868 or 
1869, and which, for awhile, had a good trade. The brick building is now idle. 
It certainly ought not to be so. If not wanted for the purpose for which it 
was built, other use might be made of it and the property made to pay some 



370 HISTORY OF POLES COUNTY. 

revenue. When people learn that small things, closely attended, are profitable, 
the large farms about Mattoon will disappear, more attention will be given to 
details, and the remedy for hard times will come of its own accord. 

The other and remaining industries of Mattoon are various shops of all 
kinds found in all towns. To describe them is unnecessary here. They came 
with the first house in the place and will remain while it lasts. 

THE BANKS. 

The first bank in Mattoon was established in lb5<Soi 18,39 by James T. Cun- 
ningham. John Cunningham and Thomas A. Marshall, and U. B. Ficklin, of 
Charleston. It was founded, under the existing laws of that day, as a private 
bank, did not issue notes, and confined its business mainly to loaning money. 
It occupied a room in a frame building, where Kahn's clothing store is now 
situated. It continued until the financial depression occasioned by the failure 
of so many State banks a year or two after it was started, and, owing to this 
suspension, was obliged to close its business. In the fall of 15>6-, Pilkington & 
Green opened a bank in the building vacated by the former bank, using their 
safe and fixtures. This they continued until January 1, 1864, when the firm 
was changed to Pilkington & Co., the members of the firm being Mr. 
Pilkington, C. G. Towusend and W. B. Dunlap. The bank was removed two or 
three doors west of its former location, and under tiio new management con- 
tinued till May 1, 18(j."). The national banking system had now been devised, 
and it was decided to organize a national bank. A number of wealthy gentle- 
men met, subscribed the necessary funds, purchased the business, fixtures, etc., 
of Pilkington & Co., and as soon as the arrangements were perfected, 
opened the First National Bank. It was opened on the above date — May 1 — 
with a capital of $60,000, with the privilege of increasing to $200,000. That 
fall, their present building was completed, vaults were put in and a time-lock 
])laced on the safe. The Directors were C. M. Dole, William Miller, Samuel 
Smith, J. (.'. Dole, I. R. Herkimer, Hiram Cox, Aloiizo Eaton, L. Chapin and 
S. W. True. Mr. C. M. Dole was chosen President ; Mr. True, Cashier, and 
Mr. Dunla]), Teller. Mr. True resigned the cashiership early in January, 
1879, and Mr. Dunlap was elected to the vacancy. He remained in this posi- 
tion until January 1, 1874. When the Mattoon National Bank was organized 
in July, he wa.s elected President. He resigned the Cashier's place to engage 
in the real estate and loan business, as he desired a more active, outdoor busi- 
ness. He was only nominally President of the Mattoon National Bank, draw- 
ing no salary, and after a few years' work in the position, he sold his stock in 
this bank, and went entirely out of the business. When he left the First 
National Bank, Mr. C. G. Weymouth was elected to the Cashier's office, hav- 
ing been promoted to that position from the Teller's i)lace. No change was 
made in the bank's ofiicials until the spring of 1878, when Mr. Dunlap was 
again elected to the Cashier's place, which he still holds. Mr. J. E. Steele is 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 371 

Teller. Mr. Dunlap was elected President of the bank, but declined, and 
Mark Kahn was chosen. He held the place until January, 1879, when he 
resigned, and William B. Warren, of Terre Haute, was elected. 

The capital stock was reduced to $50,000 not long since, that amount 
being abundant for all purposes ; all doubtful paper was thrown out and 
properly charged, and now the bank is in an excellent condition, with a large 
surplus. 

The next bank established in town was by Hinkle & Champion and Mr. M. 
B. Abell. It began business Mav 1, 1866, under the name of the Merchants' 
and Farmers' Bank, in a room now occupied by Craig & Craig as a law office. 
It continued business till a few years ago, when it failed, and closed. Mr. 
Dunlap, as Receiver, wound up its affairs. 

The last bank, the Mattoon National, was organized July 1, 1874, with the 
following officers : W. B. Dunlap, President, and James H. Clark, Cashier. 
The Directors were E. B. McClure, J. Richmond, John Rapp, Moses Kahn, 
G. T. Kilner, M. Walsh, T. C. Patrick. Joseph H. Clark and W. B. Dunlap. 
Two of the Directors afterward sold their stock — W. B. Dunlap and M. 
AValsh, and two, Moses Kahn and John Rapp, died. The stockholders met 
and elected S. B. Gray, J. F. Drish, S. Isaac and A. J. Sanborn in their 
places. W. B. Dunlap sold his stock in November, 1877, and retired from the 
Presidency. The Directors elected Joseph H. Clark to the vacancy, elected E. 
B. McClure Vice President, and chose W. A. Steele as Cashier and George 
Robinson, Teller. These oiScers are yet in the bank. It has aia abundant 
capital, a large surplus, and is doing a good business. When the Merchants' 
and Farmers" Bank suspended, this bank lost some money through the failure 
of some of its borrowers, who were obliged to suspend owing to the failure of 
that bank. These 'losses and all doubtful paper have been charged up, and 
now only the best of paper is held. This bank and the First National are the 
only two in town, and are all its trade will justify. Both are well backed, and 
are careful to conduct only a legitimate banking business. 

An examination of the amount of business performed at the various railway 
offices in Mattoon shows a good average with all towns in Central Illinois. Up 
to the war, the business of the town was all the time on the increase. For the 
first years of that conflict it fell off, owing to many men being taken from various 
pursuits of life to enter the army. As the war progressed, business again 
revived, and building, which had in a measure ceased, was renewed with great 
vigor. When the war closed, business of every kind experienced a forward move 
seldom equaled. It was in a measure unhealthy and too rapid for permanent 
benefit. For awhile after the war closed, buildings went up in Mattoon — this 
time of a substantial character — with something like the days of its earliest exist- 
ence. When the re-action came, Mattoon experienced it keenly. From the 
books of the two railways of Mattoon, the trade of the town, we take the following 
table of the shipments from October 1, 1866, to October 1, 1867, as compiled 



372 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTV. 

from reports published in the Journal of February 1, 1868. The agent of the 
Indianapolis & St. Louis Roads reported : 

Number of horses 479 

Number of mules 244 

Number of sheep I.o20 

Number of hogs 1.3,800 

Number of cattle ■5,440 

Bushels potatoes 13,060 

Bushels wheat 25,4:i8 

Bushels corn 164,180 

Bushels oats 21,860 

Bushels barley 5,778 

Bushels rye 700 

Tons of hay 302 

Barrels of hominy 4,58'.) 

Barrels meal 3,230 

Barrels tluur 421 

Barrels tallow 76 

Barrels vinegar 210 

Bundles of pelts 26 

Bundles green hides 433 

Bundles dry hides 218 

Pounds of wool 73,447 

Pounds miscellaneous 17,166,453 

The agent of the Illinois Central reported : 

Number of horses 251 

Number mules 626 

Number cattle 1,544 

Number hogs 2,667 

Number sheep 1,610 

Bushels of corn 324,.561 

Bushels wheat 6,0.50 

Bushels oats 2!l,518 

Bushels barley 6,176 

Barrels of hominy 1,344 

Barrels meal 1,675 

Barrels tlour 206 

Barrels vinegar 474 

Car loads of hay 7 

Car loads of poultry 7 

Bushels of potatoes 12,532 

Pounds miscellaneous 2,551,305 

The same number of the Journal says that there are in number the follow- 
ing business houses : 

Hotels 5 

Banks 2 

Bookstores 1 

Warehouses 4 

Planing-mills 1 

Woolen-mills 1 

Flouring-mills 2 

Vinegar- works _ I 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 373 

Hominy-mills '2, 

Dry goods stores 10 

Drug stores .■ ♦'» 

Clothing stores 4 

Furnishing stores 1 

Furniture stores ■? 

Hardware stores '^ 

Leather store I 

Stove stores 1 

Music store 1 

Groceries 14 

Agricultural stores 1 

Wagon-shops o 

Plow-shops 3 

Blacksmith-shops 8 

Carpenter-shops 4 

• Harness-makers 5 

Coal offices S 

Saloons 10 

Restaurants o 

Bakeries S 

Shoe stores 2 

Lumljer-yards "2 

Marble-shops ■{ 

Art galleries ■^ 

Livery-stables 4 

Express offices 2 

Jewelry stores ■? 

Brewery 1 

Tailors 3 

Milliners fi 

Draymen 24 

Dentists 3 

Lawyers ; 9 

Physicians 12 

The editor states that much building is going on : that the hotel — Dole 
House — is contemplated ; also, two churches, and that the prospects are favora- 
ble for a large city — something every hamlet in the West confidently expects, 
and cannot understand why outsiders do not see such a result is inevitable. 
The element of hope enters largely into American character, and is nowhere 
more strikingly exhibited than in the average editor's opinion of his own 
town. 

The Journal, further on in this article, gives a valuable table of heights of 
towns in Central Illinois. It is worth reproducing, and we give it entire : 

'• Mattoon is 740 feet above the level of the sea, 158 feet above Chicago 
and the lake, and 458 feet above the rivers at Cairo. We are just one foot above 
Champaign, 66 feet above Pana, 176 above Decatur, 19 above Bloomington and 
142 above Galena. There is only one point between Chicago and Cairo higher 
than Mattoon, viz., Monee, about thirty-five miles south of Chicago, which is 
54 feet higher than our city, being 794 feet above tide water. There is 



374 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

not a point on the St. Louis. Alton & Terre Haute Road so high as our city by 
many feet.'" 

From the foregoing statement, it will be observed that Mattoon is, in a measure, 
a " city set on a hill." If she follows the injunction of Holy Writ, she will 
doubtless let her light shine. This can be done in more ways than one, not 
only in a Scriptural sense, but in a material one, by showing an activity in 
business and solidity of purpose that will count in the future. 

THE POST OFFICE. 

To show the life of the Mattoon post ofEce, we subjoin the following state- 
ments : 

The second Postmaster was H. L. Taylor, the next Joseph Brady, who 
was followed by 11. W. Houghton, M. W. Wilcox and J. H. Clark, the present 
occupant. He was appointed May 5, 1869, and is now serving his third term. 
When Mr. True was Postmaster, there were four daily mails, now there are ten. 
There are about 700 letters daily received, in addition to the papers, periodicals 
and miscellaneous packages. 

The sale of stamps for the year 1878 amounted to ^5,726.91. The amount 
of money-orders issued for the week ending Februarys, 1879, was §546.08. 
Those paid amounted to $2,034.28. As many more orders are paid than issued, 
Mr. Clark holds a balance of $2,000 in the New York office to draw against to 
make up the deficiencies. Some idea of the business of the office can be 
obtained by computing, from the amounts given, the business for a year. 
When we remember the few mistakes occurring, we can truly marvel at the 
excellency of the post office management. There are 1,100 open boxes and 
211 lock -boxes. The income from the boxes is about $800 per year. 

CHUKCHES AND SCHOOLS. 

It has been already noticed in these pages that a church was built in Mattoon 
the second summer of its existence. That pioneer church is yet standing, and 
is still used for the purpose for which it was erected. 

It was built by the Baptists — " Old Line," as they are commonly termed here 
— in the summer of 1856. After their disbanding it was sold to the L'nited 
Brethren, when they organized a congregation in town (having been in the 
country previously), and was used by them until their disorganization. Then it 
went into the hands of Michael Tobey and J. S. Mitchell, as Trustees, by whom 
it is yet held. The Calvary Baptists had made, during this time, several unsuc- 
cessful efforts to organize a congregation, but not until January, 1876, were they 
able to effect a permanent union. Early in that year, they met in Mr. .U. T. S. 
Rice's office, and by him were organized as a congregation. There were but 
seven members. These were Mr. and Mrs. Rice, Jonathan A. Tuffts, wife and 
daughter, S. K. Sanders and George Clark and wife. Soon after, they were 
joined by Mrs. Joseph and Mrs. Sinsebaugh. 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 375 

For three years, they met for divine services in a hall over Hasbrouck's hard- 
ware store, Mr. Rice being leader a good part of the time. Not long since, they 
leased the old church built in 1856, which they now occupy. Their member- 
ship has nearly quadrupled since the organization. Their present Pastor 
is Rev. W. S. Dodge. 

The First Missionary Baptist Church, the oldest congregation of thi.s^ 
denomination in the city, was organized December 25, 1863, with twenty-eight 
members, prominent among whom were Mr. and Mrs. Roach, Mr. and Mrs. 
Baker, Mr. and Mrs. Hays, Mr. and Mrs. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Newcomb, H. 
J. Streator and wife, and Mr. and Mrs. Frazer. 

The organization was effected in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 
where they continued to meet for nearly a year. They then leased the old 
church, and used it one year ; then Cartmell's Hall ; then to a hall over South's 
store ; then to Union Hall, in which place the first steps were taken for 
the formation of the present Calvary Baptist Church by several of the members 
withdrawing for that purpose. 

In 1870. the congregation built their present house of worship, and have 
been holding regular services therein since. From the date of the establishment 
of this church to the present time, more than three hundred members have been 
connected with it. It is the nucleus around which have grown the churches at 
Willow Creek, ^tna, Kickapoo, and one other congregation. 

Rev. J. W. Riley, who was present at the Recognition Council, January 
30. 1864, has been the Pastor, with the exception of six years, when he was at 
other places. During this interval, the pulpit was filled with supplies nearly 
every Sabbath, and services regularly sustained. 

The Cumberland Presbj/terian Church was organized in the summer of 1857. 
In the spring of that year. Rev. Joel Knight, a minister in this denomination, 
began preaching in Mattoon, one Sabbath in each month, in the Baptist Church. 
On the 23d of August, twenty-seven persons, professing adherence to the doctrines 
of this Church, met and organized themselves into a congregation, and signed 
articles of confederation. The following is the original roll of membership : 

Alexander Montgomery, H. Clay Warthon, James S. Cunningham, Edw. 
W. Cartmell, Sarah A. Mount, M. Craig, R. D. Montgomery,* J. AV. Rankin, 
Washington Engle, Mrs. Lucinda Montgomery, Mrs. Sarah Montgomery, Mrs. 
Eliza Craig. Edw. Hall, W. H. K. Pile,* Mrs. N. I. Pile,* Mrs. Scintha 
Mount, John J. Walkup, Mrs. Margaret A. Montgomery, Mrs. Mary E. Mont- 
gomery, Jefferson M. Hall,* Mrs. Amanda J. Hall,* James Kelley,* Mrs. 
Mercy Kelley, Rev. Peter Duncan, Mrs. Manning Duncan and Mrs. Nancy E. 
Morrison. -Of these, but six are now connected with the congregation. 
Thirteen have removed, and eight have died. 

On the 27th, the congregation met and elected Alexander Montgomery, H. 
Clay Warthon and Edw. Hall, Elders, and W. H. K. Pile, Clerk. 

* Still a member. 



376 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

At the fall session of this Presbytery, the congregation was taken under its 
care, and Rev. Joel Knight employed to preach one-fourth of his time, and, for 
two years, services were held, most of the time, in Cartmell Hall. 

On February 27, 18.58, James T. Cunningham, H. Clay Warthon and W. 
H. K. Pile, were chosen Trustees, and during the following spring. Rev. 
George 0. Bannon, from Kentucky, preached for the congregation. Rev. 
Peter -Duncan was also employed, and while here, in 1860, his death occurred. 

On November 1, 1859, Rev. J. W. Wood began his work in this church, 
preaching each alternate Sabbath. He remained one year, and was succeeded 
by Rev. James Ashmore, who filled the pulpit until the fall of 1861. 

In the spring of that year, preparations were made to build a house of 
worship, and in June, the corner-stone was laid. The address on this occasion 
was delivered by Rev. J. W. Wood, assisted in the ceremony by the two minis- 
ters who had succeeded him here. The church was not completed, owing to the 
breaking-out of the war, and other matters,' until 186-'). It was dedicated in 
1867, by J. B. Logan, D. D. 

In the summer of 1862, Rev. S. R. Roseboro was called, remaining eight 
months. The records of the congregation do not show any progress from this 
time until the close of the war (1865), nor the names of the ministers. In 
March of this latter year. Rev. Mr. Wood was again called, and remained until 
March, 1866. In June, 1857, Rev. T. K. Hodges began preaching, remain- 
ing one year. In December, 1868, Rev. W. S. Langdon came. On the 12th 
day of October, 1869, he died, in his room in the basement of the church. He 
was taken to St. Louis, Mo., for interment. Rev. E. J. Gillespie was called to 
tlie vacancy, and remained two years. He was followed by R. W. Hooker, who 
stayed nine months. In April, 1875, Rev. A. B. McDaniel came. He remained 
one year. In June, 1876, Rev. R. J. Beard was called. He remained two 
ye:ir.< and three months. In November, 1878, the present Pastor, Rev. E. M. 
Joimsoii, began his ministry. 

From the time the congregation was organized until February 17, 1879, 
there have been 348 members received. Of these, 35 have died, 168 have been 
dismissed and gone, and 145 remain. 

The church is a convenient brick structure, on East Broadway, and has 
been in continual use ever since.its erection. 

The Christian Church was organized in March, 1859, with seventeen mem- 
bers, of whom one only, Mr. Zack Robertson, is now connected here. The organi- 
zation was eflfected by Elder John Mathes, of Bedford, Ind. Services were held 
in halls and the members' houses, until 1860, when they erected their present 
church. The growtli of the congregation continued uninterrupted until 1870, 
when between thirty and forty members, living principally on the West Side, 
withdrew from the church and established a congregation there. They erected a 
small frame cliurch, and continued as a separate body until 1878, when they 
re-united with the old church, from which time there has been one organization. 



HISTORY. OF COLES COUNTY. 377 

The small house of worship on the West Side is now used as a mission 
chapel. 

Since the establishment of the Christian Church in Mattoon, fully five 
hundred members have belonged to it. Many of them are now, however, 
removed to other places, some are dead, and some fallen away. There are now 
nearly two hundred members. 

The printipal Pastors have been Revs. Black, Frazier, Adams, Streater, 
Lucas, Stewart, Roberts and Mason. The present minister is Rev. E. J. Hart. 

The Gennnti Uvanc/elicaf Association was organized in 1868, with seven 
members, by Rev. Matthew Keiber. For the first three years, they met in a 
hall in the west part of town, and were supplied by ministers from other parts 
of the circuit. In 1870, they began the erection of their present house of 
worship, which was completed and occupied the next year. It is a small frame 
structure in the southwest part of Mattoon, convenient for the members. 

The congregation has increased but little in its membership, the removals 
and deaths equalizing the accessions. They are yet unable to support a regu- 
lar ministry, and are .supplied every other week by Rev. M. Kahl, the minister 
in charge of this circuit. 

The Unitarian Church was organized December -"2, 18(j7. After holding 
meeting in the members' houses and in halls, for a few years, the church dis- 
banded and services were discontinued. In 1872, another effort was made and 
a new organization effected, mainly through the efforts of Rev. J. L. Douthit, of 
Shelbyville, and a few of the old members who still adhered to the principles of 
this denomination. They began the erection of a very neat brick church on West- 
ern avenue, which structure they completed the next year. Their first regular 
minister was Rev. George A. Dennison, who came in the spring of 1873, and re- 
mained two years. Since his departure, they have been supplied occasionally only, 
and have not maintained regular services. They are at present without a pastor, 
but an effort is being made to revive the work here and build up the church. 

The colored residents of Mattoon sustain two churches, the oldest of which is 
the Methodist. This was organized in the spring of 18156, with about a dozen 
members, by Rev. Smith Nichols, the present Pastor. That summer, a frame 
building was purchased, remodeled, and made into a comfortable church, and is 
yet used. The membership has more than doubled, and the prospects of this 
congregation are good. Rev. Nichols remained with the church from 186tJ to 
1868. He was succeeded by Revs. Alexander, Knight, De Pugh, Hand and 
J. T. Neace. He is now serving his second pastorate. 

The Colored Baptist Church was organized in 1871 or 1872. It, not long 
after, obtained a small frame building, which it has since used as a church. It 
is in the western part of town, wliere most of the people dwell. Regular 
services are now held, both colored churches supporting good Sunday schools. 

The Church of the IrtunaeulateConception — the Catholic — stands in the north- 
west part of Mattoon, and is the only one of that denomination in the city. It 



378 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

was organized soon after the building of the railroad began, and has since been 
sustained. The membership is quite large, as it includes all baptized persons 
in the Church, of whatever age. Following the policy of ths Catholic Church 
at large, this congregation established a parochial school soon after it was organ- 
ized. Their present school-building, contiguous to the church, was erected in 
1865. The school is under the charge of the Ursuline Sisters, and draws many 
children from the public schools. This is clearly evidenced in the reports of 
the Superintendent of the West Side schools. 

The Preshjteriim Church was organized on May 27, I860, with twenty 
members. They were Mrs. Mary E. Bridges, Mrs. Martha M. Bridges, Mrs. 
Betty Johnson, W. E. Smith, John A. Forline, David Forline, Mrs. Betty Dora, 
Rae M. Bridges. Mrs. Rebecca Boyd, Miss Frances A. Boyd, Miss Orphio E. 
Boyd, James Boyd, D. T. Mclntyre, Miss Cyntha Vanzant, Robert Campbell. 
Mrs. Robert Campbell, Mrs. Margaret Keely. Mrs. Martha A. Smith, Mrs. 
Martha J. Vanzant and Mrs. Mary E. Boyd. The meeting to organize was 
held in the old Methodist Church, in the northeast part of town. Rev. .J. 

W. Allison and Rev. McFarland appear to have been the first preachers 

here, both of whom, with Rev. Samuel Newell, of Paris, and Rev. R. ilitchell, 
of Charleston, assisted at the organization of the congregation. Afterward, 
Dr. A. Hamilton was elected Pastor, and the erection of a church determined. 
Prior to the organization of this Church, the New-School Presbyterians had 
effected an organization, and were using halls, or churches of other denomina- 
tions in which to hold their meetings. The Old-School Presbyterians com- 
pleted their house of worship in 1864, dedicating it Sabbath, July 31. The 
dedicatory sermon was preached by Dr. Hamilton, the Pastor. In the after- 
noon. Rev. Venable preached, and in the evening. Rev. Hendricks. 

The congregation grew well during Dr. A. Hamilton's pastorate, extending till 
January, 1866, when, owing to failing health, he resigned. The pulpit was 
filled by supplies till September, 1870, when Rev. W. B. Noble was called as 
Pastor. He remained till April, 1872, when he resigned, and was succeeded, 
the following January, l)y Rev. Henry W. Woods, who was installed May 6, 
1873. He occupied the pulpit till the spring of 187;">, when he was succeeded 
by the present Pastor, Rev. James L. McNair. A short time after the erection of 
the churcli, in 1864, the New-School Presbyterians built a house of worship on the 
East Side — the Old-School being in the West — and continued worshiping there. 
In the autumn of 1871, these two branches of the church were united — hav- 
ing been separate over forty years — and one congregation in Mattoon was the 
result. At first, both houses of worship were used. but. a vote being taken, it 
was decided to use oidy the West Side house, and, soon after, the East Side 
church was sold to the Congregationalists, who now use it. The West Side house 
of worship was used without any alteration until two or three years ago. when 
owing to the increased growth of the congregation, an addition was built to the 
east end, and the seating capacity very much enlarged. 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 379 

The Congregationalist Church is the outgrowth of the union of the Old and 
New-School Presbytei'ians, in 1871. Many members in the New-School branch 
favoring the Congregational mode of worship and discipline, organized a church of 
that body, and raised some $800 to aid in the attempt. The building erected by . 
the New School Presbyterians was soon after purchased, and has since been 
used. The Council of the Congregational Church met on March 10, 1872, and 
regularly constituted the Church. On the 1st of the following January, Rev. 
N. J. Morrison, then just released from the Presidency of Olivet College, Mich- 
igan, was called to the pastorate of the Church. He remained only six months, 
resigning to accept the Presidency of Drury College, Springfield, Mo. In 
October, 1873, Rev. A. L. Ldomis was called to the pulpit. He remained 
until May, 187<:i. During his residence, a revival occurred, greatly increasing 
the membership. The next Pastor was Rev. P. P. Warner, who came in Jan- 
uary. 1877. and remained until August 15, 1878, when he resigned. He is now 
publishing a paper in Aledo, 111. He was succeeded by the present Pastor, 
Rev. A. M. Thorne, in October. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1857 with about twelve 
members. They met at first in dwellings and halls until about 1860, when 
they erected a very substantial house of worship in the northeast part of tlie 
city. It was then expected the center of the town would be here ; but future 
revelations dispelled this idea, and in 1870, it was determined to erect a larger 
house of worship and in a more convenient place. The present church was the 
result. It cost about $12,000, and is a very neat building. The congrega- 
tion is now quite large, and sustains an excellent Sunday school. 

In addition to the churches enumerated, others, now abandoned, have ex- 
isted. Some few societies exist, but of so passive a nature, they are omitted. 

THE SCHOOLS. 

The schools of Mattoon form a chapter in its history equal in its impor- 
tance to any part or parcel of the city. Cotemporary with the start of the 
town, a school was provided, and, before the cold of winter came in the year 
1855, a small frame schoolhouse was built in the eastern part of town on 
Broadway. The eftbrts of the principal proprietors of the infantile village 
were strenuous, indeed, to secure the center of town there, and built the school- 
house where the greatest part of the population was expected to be. A school 
was taught in this small frame, hardly as large as an ordinary country school- 
house of to-day, during the winter of 1855-56, and so great was the influx of 
population that the little room was crowded to its utmost. School was taught 
here but one term, as far as we have been able to find out. The room was too 
small, and was hardly used longer." The school was, of course, a subscription 
school. If any public money was obtained it was only a small amount, for the 
idea of supporting schools in this part of Illinois entirely by taxation, was not 
yet well entertained. The next year, another similar school was "kept," as 



380 ' HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

we are told in an unoccupied room, and, the following winter, over Tnie's store 
and in some unfurnished house. The recollection of old persons is not very 
good on this point; they were more interested in "corner lots," than to notice 
very closely just where the schools were (for one room could not contain the 
pupils, and any one could teach who could get a room and some pupils). The 
next year — summer of 1857 — a very comfortable brick structure was built in 
the northeast part of town, not far from where the first Methodist Church stood. 
This second schoolhouse was a decided improvement. It would seat many 
more pupils than its predecessor, and though "private" schools began to 
flourish, it held its way. It began to receive considerable aid, enough at least 
to conduct it thi-ough the winter term, from taxation, steadily growing in favor. 
The private schools, as they were termed, came rapidly into use in the early 
history of Mattoon, and continued with more or less force until a few years 
ago. The most noticeable of any of these was started on quite an extensive 
plan, even going so far as to obtain a charter. We refer to the Male and Female 
Academy. It was in truth two institutions, known more extensively as Mat- 
toon Female Academy and Mattoon College. The former was intended for 
young ladies, the latter for young gentlemen. Referring to the papers for the 
period of their commencement, we find they were chartered February 21, 
1863. On March 24, 18H4, the Trustees met and organized, elected a President 
and chose teachers. The Mattoon College does not seem to have been put in 
very extensive working order, and in a short time appears to drop out of notice. 
The great obstacle in the way of both these institutions was a lack of means. 
Neither had any money to work on, and the town was too young and too poor 
to endow them. They began in 1858 or 1859, and worked some time before 
receiving their charters. In December, 1861, Prof W. W. Gill resigned the 
care of the seminary, which had at all times the largest patronage, and wa-s 
succeeded by Rev. D. F. McFarland, who leased the Harris Building and 
opened sciiool on the second day of the month his predecessor left. He con- 
ducted it some time with reasonable success, but. failing to make it profitable, 
left. It was afterward under the care of Mrs, C. E. Gill, who continued it 
some time. Owing to an inability to support the school, and the erection of 
new and better ward schools, with their increased facilities for education, their 
free tuition and freedom to all, the academy and all private schools were gradu- 
ally abandoned, and now none are sustained. 

The j)ublic school continued along in the brick building referred to, with 
little change, save the gradually improved methods of education, and the division 
of the school into two or more grades, as circumstances allowed, until a new 
house was erected on the West Side, about 1861 or 1862. This divided the 
schools and assisted greatly in properly classifying them. The building on the 
West Side was erected by that ward and put under an entirely separate control. 
The two schools were made independent of each other, and have continued so 
to this day. The building on the West Side was an improvement on its prede- 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 381 

cessor of the East Side. It was a verj commodious brick building, contained 
four rooms, was supplied with a bell, improved seats, blackboards and all the 
machinery of the modern schoolroom of the day. It occupied the entire block, 
affording the children plenty of room in which to play. It was used without 
alteration until the spring of 1871. By that time, it had become too small for 
the increased demands of the growing city, and anew one was decided upon. 
The members of the Board of School Trustees that spring were B. C. Hinkle. 
J. M. Riddle and J. M. Hall. Under direction of this Board, the present house 
was erected. The old one was simply remodeled and enlarged, and fitted with 
still more advanced furniture. It contains five rooms, and a commodious hall in 
the third story. Here the high school receives instruction, and here are many 
of the entertainments. When this building was erected, a small one-roomed 
building was constructed a little west of it, for the use of the colored children ; 
but finding it impracticable to educate them thus, and failing to provide them 
equal advantages with the others, they were admitted to the graded school, and 
the building erected for them moved to the school-yard and used for primary 
scholars. 

From the report of the Superintendent of this school, the following facts and 
items are learned : 

Number of persons under tweniy-one years of age 1,041 

Number of school age 766 

Monthly enrollment for the year 31(i 

Average attendance for the year 256 

The small enrollment is to be accounted for in part by the great number of 
children attending the Catholic school. 

The school is divided into four departments, viz, primary, intermediate, 
grammar and high school. The primary department has three grades. In 
each of the other departments, the pupils are divided into three classes, desig- 
nated as Class A, Class B and Class C. The teachers are : P. H. DeardoiF, 
Ph. M., Principal; Miss Maggie Ewing, Assistant in the high school; Miss 
Nannie Myrick, intermediate ; Miss Jennie D. Riddle, third primary ; Miss 
Minnie Jennings, second primary, and Miss Annie Riddle, first primary. 

The brick building on the East Side continued in use until the erection of the 
present one, in 1865. It became apparent, however, before that date that better 
accommodations would have to be provided, as the house used was by far too 
small, even when aided by one or two rented rooms. It was decided to borrow 
$10,000 on city bonds, and an election was ordered to be held October 26, 1864. 
At that time, there were 421 children in the district of lawful school age. The 
bonds were voted for by a majority of 80 votes, and soon after the site was 
selected and work on the new building begun. It was completed in November, 
1865, and opened for school on Monday morning, February 5, following. It 
contains five rooms, and a large hall in the third story, similar to the one on the 
West Side, and used for similar purposes. 



a 



382 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

The town continuing to grow, this building was found inadequate to supply 
school room for the increasing school population of the East Side, and another 
building was erected in the southeast part of town in 1877 and 1878. It con- 
tains four rooms, and is under the care of the Superintendent at the other 
building. From his last report, we gather the following statements : 

Number of chiMren under tweuty-one years of age 1,427 

Enrollment of scbool age 944 

Average enrollment 653 

Average attendance -529 

Ten teachers are employed, whose wages, including that of the Superin- 
tendent and janitor, amount to ^4,740. for eight months of school. The 
teachers are: C. AV. Jacobs, Principal; Miss Lizzie Borland, high school; 
Miss Cai-rie Riddle, Miss Eva Lowe and Miss Lillie Osborn, grammar school, 
sixth, seventh and eighth grades; Miss Helen Pattei'son and Miss Lavina 
Ewing, intermediate department, fourth and fifth grades; Miss Mollie Phillips, 
primary department, and Miss Julia Pulsifer, Miss Ida Woods and Miss Mary 
Cushman, same department, in the first, second and third grades. Grouping 
the school statistics, we have : 

Number of children under twenty-one years 2,468 

Enrollment for the year 1,710 

Attendance for the year 785 

Assuming the first number given to be one-third; the second, one-fourth, 
and the third, one-eightli. we have a population of about six thousand in the 

city. 

THE PRESS. 

On Saturday, June 7, 18.5t), Mr. R. W. Houghton issued the first number 
of the Mattoon Gazette, the initial copy of newspapers in the city. It was a 
^seven-column, four-page paper, one of the original copies of which is now in 
possession of Mr. Leonidas Chapin, a resident of the western part of town, 
and who highly prizes this relic of early days. His regret now is that he did 
not preserve the entire files of the paper. 

In glancing over this old copy, many interesting items are gleaned. In 
his "salutatory." Mr. Houghton says: 

" We design publishing a good family newspaper — one whose information can 
be depended upon as reliable. In politics we are independent — committed to 
no party." 

After giving his reasons for this stand, he says : •' There are many matters 
of vital importance to our moral advancement, our educational system and the 
agricultural interests of this mighty people which demand the attention of the 
press, giving a broad field for operation outside the political arena." 

He goes on to say that he will give particular attention to commercial anil 
agricultural reports, and adds, "we have now launched our bark, weighed 
anchor, and hope to accomplish the voyage, even though we have occasion- 
ally to contend with tides and adverse winds." 



HISTORY OF COLES COUUTY. 385 

Speaking of Mattoon in an editorial, he notes its geographical position, its 
railway facilities, its markets and the good country about it. He says the 
town is a " stripling of less than a year's growth, and taking into consider- 
ation the difficulties of procuring building material, and the unusual sickness 
of the last season, its growth has been rapid. A great many buildings are 
now in course of erection and many more are projected." 

Commenting on the prospects of the village, the paper proceeds: "We 
know of no place which offers greater inducements for the improvement of 
capital than this. Houses of all kinds ai-e in demand at the landlord's rates, 
and everything else demands good prices. No branch of business seems to 
lack customei's. In fact, we have all the elements necessary for the building- 
up of a good inland town, in conjunction with a firm determination on the 
part of the inhabitants to make it thrive. 

Farther on, he says : 

" We have now eight or ten good stores, neai'ly all kinds of mechanics, 
several warehouses, two good hotels, a printing office, and a population of from 
four to five hundred." 

Referring to railroads, the editor writes : 

" We understand that the Superintendent of the Illinois Central road has 
decided on the construction of a Y and side-tracks, freight-house, etc., on the 
east side of the road, north of the T. H. ik A. road. The latter company, we 
are informed, intend laying a side-track on the south side of the I'oad. in the 
east end of town. The two companies, in conjunction, intend to build a 
respectable passenger-depot on the opposite side of the track from the T. H. & 
A. freight-house." 

He hopes that this will soon be done, as he intimates there is an urgent 
necessity for it. The erection of the Essex House, the next year, pi-obably 
put an end to such intentions. 

The editor ((uotes from the Indianapolis Daily Sentinel the nomination of 
James Buchanan, of Pennsylvania, as President, and Breckenridge, of Ken- 
tucky, as Vice President, in the Democratic Convention at Cincinnati. He 
also notices the election of Directors for the T. H. & A. Railroad, as reported 
by the Paris Blade, and the i-obbery of the post office at Vincennes, Ind., 
quoted from the G-azette of that town. After giving a few other general 
items, he proceeds to fill the balance of the second page with advertise- 
ments. 

A. Francis informs the citizens of Mattoon that '■ he is now opening at the 
store opposite and nearest the depot, another choice stock of spring and summer 
goods, of almost every kind and description, and that he will keep on hand con- 
stantly the best brands of flour." 

Norvell & Brother announce that they have just opened a " saddle and 
harness shop, west of the Central Railroad, over the Crazette office," and that 
their tei'ms are " exclusively cash." 



386 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

A. Engle announces the •' Mattoon House now open, and that he is ready 
to receive the patronage of the public, and afford them a home, at reasonable 
terms.' 

Thomas McKee advertises that •' the Pennsylvania House has recently 
changed hands, and has been very much enlarged and otherwise improved by 
painting and papering it throughout." 

Mr W. H. K. Pile says that '"the Kentucky House, at the corner of 
Second and Broadway, will furnish supper, lodging and breakfast for $1, and 
that he will give one meal for 35 cents." 

H M. Tremble & Son •' announce to the public that they are receiving dry . 
goods of every description, hardware and cutlery, groceries, boots and shoes, 
clothing, cordage, carpenters' tools, farming utensils, rich and fashionable bon- 
nets ; all of which we offer for sale cheap for cash, or in exchange for corn, 
oats, wheat, rye, rags, butter, eggs, tallow, beeswax, and, in short, everything 
in the produce line, at market prices." 

S. Knight & Co. deal in lumber, shingles, lath, timber and dressed lumber. 

Conley & Hitchcock have the largest advertisement of any firm. They 
report new style prints, new style poplins, sugars and other groceries, summer 
clothing, boots and shoes, and everything to be found in any other store. They 
give market reports, from which we learn prices paid then for different articles 
bought and sold. Wheat is reported from $1 to $1.50 per bushel ; corn, from 
12j^ to 15 cents; oats, 20 cents; potatoes, $1 and fl.25; timothy-seed, $2.25; 
cornmeal, 25 cents per 100 lbs.; butter, 12^ ; eggs, 10 cents per dozen ; coffee is 
14 cents per pound ; sugar, from 10 to 15 ; bacon is reported from 7 to 10 cents 
per pound, beef at 7 and 8 cents; chickens are worth $1.50 and $2 per dozen: 
rye is worth 50 cents and 60 cents per bushel ; hay, $6 per ton ; whisky, ^^5 
cents per gallon, brandy $4.50, wine $4 and gin $2.50, when bought by the 
barrel. 

This description includes almost all noticed in this first issue of the paper, 
referring to Mattoon. The rest of the paper is devoted entirely to foreign 
matters — no local items noticed. Probably Mr. Houghton did not have time 
to gather any. He appears to have all his paper but one page printed else- 
where — probably in Terre Haute, as much of the advertising is from there, and 
some of it is inserted twice. The paper is quite creditable for the start, and 
we are sorry that no second copy was preserved so its advance could he 
noticed. 

The Gazette was announced to appear every Saturday, and carefully fulfilled 
its contracts. Mr. Houghton, who had been a printer in Terre Haute, and had 
published a paper in Greenup until the county seat was removed, continued 
with the Gazette until autumn, when he sold to Dumas J. Van Deren, and 
returned to a farm near Greenup. He remained there and in the town till the 
spring of 1857, when he moved again to Mattoon and purchased the Gazette oi 
Mr. Van Deren. He conducted the paper till the fall of 185'J, when he sold it 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 387 

to Mclntyre (Jc Woods and removed to a farm near Majority Point. Shortly 
afterward, Mr. Woods sold his interest to W. P. Harding, and the firm of 
Harding & Mclntyre, who took charge of the Gazette. Mr. Houghton returned 
the third time to Mattoon after raising one crop, and again secured an interest 
in the Gazette. He subsequently enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty- 
third Illinois Volunteers, and lost his life in an engagement on the 18th Septem- 
ber, I860. When he went to the army, the paper continued under Mclntyre 
k Harding's control, the latter gentleman as editor until February 1, 1861. 
July 19, 1865, Mr. Mclntyre sold to J. 0. Harding, and the Gazette came 
under the charge of Harding Brothers. 

When the war broke out, J. 0. Harding enlisted first in the Sixteenth Indi- 
ana, afterward in the Seventy-ninth Illinois. He was taken prisoner and 
confined in Libby eighteen months. On his return from the war, he came 
again into the Gazette office on July 19, 1865, with his brother. The firm 
of Harding Brothers managed the Gazette until June 20, 1866, when the 
junior member sold his interest to Mr. C. B. Bostwick, and Harding & Bost- 
wick conducted the paper until May 29, 1867. At this date, Mr. Harding sold 
his interest to Mr. Bostwick, who managed the Gazette until July 10, 1867. 
A radical change in the paper occurred at this date. The Democratic party 
had for some time been desiring a paper, and when Mr. Bostwick sold, it was to 
a committee of prominent citizens of that political party. They changed the 
name to the Mattoon Democrat and its politics to their own. They employed 
Charles W. Dunifer as editor, who remained but a few months, when he was suc- 
ceeded by a Mr. Crouch, who remained in charge, only two or three months. 
The adventure not proving a success, the committee desired to sell. They 
found a purchaser in the persons of Taylor & Bowen, who changed the name to 
Mattoon Cla)-ion. They, however, were not able to pay for it, and, soon after, 
the establishment was sold at Sheriffs sale, and the materials moved to 
Sullivan. 

When Mr. Bostwick sold in 1867, he contracted to stay out of the printing 
business five years, and, the time expired, he returned and concluded to 
revive the old Gazette. He and George B. McDougall purchased a new outfit, 
and, on the 16th of August, 1872, they issued the first number. They also 
opened a job office in connection with their paper, and soon had a good business. 
They continued together until January, 1874, when Mr. McDougall sold his 
interest to Mr. Bostwick, who has since conducted the Gazette. It is a 
large-sized, eight-paged paper, and has an excellent reputation and circulation. 
The office is fitted with a good steam-power press, two job presses, power paper- 
cutter, ruling machine, and all the material necessary for doing all ordinary 
commercial book and blank work. 

The Journal was established November 1, 1865, by W. 0. Ellis. He, in 
his editorial "salutatory," defines his intended position; refers to the fact of 
the late war; to his position regarding it ; to the dc'sire he entertains for peace ; 



388 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

to the cause of education, which he hopes to see fostered in the town : to the 
crowth of trade and the eneouragement of manufactories, and to the general 

c c a 

advancement of the city wherein he has cast his lot. 

The editor notices the fine weather of that fall : the discharge of the Thirty- 
third Illinois, at Vicksburg; the granting of 8,000 pardons by the President, 
and the fact of there being 20,000 still on file. Many other items of State 
and national news are given : a liberal patronage of advertising appears, and, 
all in all. the paper evidently was issued after a careful canvass was made. 

Some one gives a history of the inception of the Mattoon Business College 
and Female Seminary, and. through successive numbers, concludes arguments 
in favor of their firm establishment in the city. 

The Journal starts out evidently well prepared for work, and shows a dis- 
position to maintain and elevate its standard. Mr. Ellis continued as editor 
and proprietor until June 23, 1866, when he sold an interest in the paper to 
Capt. Thomas E. AVoods. Two weeks before, the Journal was considerably 
enlarged and improved, showing the year's adventure had been successful. 
Capt. Woods, in his "salutatory" to the readers of the Journal, says he is 
here again among the people he had formerly known when he conducted the 
Gazette, and later, when he had wielded the pen in the sanctum of the Charles- 
ton Courier, before that journal, as he thinks, apostatized. He alludes to the 
fact of his late connection with the war, fairly closed, and avers that, having 
tried both the pen and the sword, though the former may be " mightier, 
it is less swift." 

The current news of the day are given : a good local column is maintained, 
while general news appears. Mr. Ellis remains with the paper, Capt. Woods 
acting as editor. 

The Journal was run under this arrangement until the fall of 1869, when 
Capt. Woods purchased the entire interest, and assumed exclusive control. He 
conducted the Journal alone until March 1, 1876. when he associated with him- 
self his brother, Winfield Woods, and the paper was conducted by AVoods 
Brothers until January 1, 1879, when Capt. Woods received an appointment in 
the Treasury Department, at Washington, and went there. He is still con- 
nected with the paper, however, and furnislies much of its editorial matter. 

On January 1, 1879, William F. Purtill, who has been connected with the 
papers of Mattoon as a general printer and foreman for several years, and has 
been for a long time with the Journal, obtained an interest, and now the paper 
is conducted by Woods & Purtill. It began in 1874 "to issue a daily, which it 
maintains with commendable enterprise, and which is an important factor in 
the life of Mattoon. It had been run as a tri-wcekly two or .three years prior 
to the daily ; this was. however, abolished when the daily was founded, and the 
weekly issue resumed. 

The third paper in Mattoon, the Commercial, is the outgrowth of the Bad- 
iral Rppuhliean. a paper started early in December, 1867, by Mr. Ebenezer 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. ' 389 

Noyes. When the G-azette was sold by Mr. Bostwick to the committee of 
Democrats, Mr. Noyes determined to establish a strong Republican paper in its 
stead, purchased materials and opened an oiBce on the north side of Broadway, 
west of the railroad, in the room now occupied by 'Squire Robb. He employed 
Charles Robb as printer, and assumed the editorial charge himself. He made 
the paper what its name implied, and was not at all afraid to freely express his 
views. He was assisted by Mr. Chittenden in his editorial work, who had the 
main control in the business office and as a gatherer of news. James Williams 
was soon after also engaged in the printing department. 

Mr. Chittenden did not remain long in the office, and the entire editorial 
and reportorial duties devolved upon Mr. Noyes, who took in his sons to aid 
him. They continued the Radical Republican until sometime in 1871, when 
they sold the paper to Mr. A. Bookwalter, who changed the name to Commer- 
cial. He continued it until the fall of 1872, when he suspended. He soon 
after sold the office to Mr. R. Sumerlin & Sons, who moved it to its present 
location. Their first paper appeared on October 8. 1872. Under their man- 
agement, the paper was made the organ of the Democratic party, and was con- 
tinued by them until August, 1876. Mr. Sumerlin sold the paper at this time 
to a stock company, and went to Florida. The company appointed Mr. A. 
Sumerlin, who had been in the office with his father, editor and manager, 
and, under this management, it is still continued. The Commercial is a four- 
page paper, issued weekly, and has a good circulation among its constituents. 

The office is very well supplied with material, and a general printing and 
job office maintained in connection with the paper. 

LODGES, ASSOCIATIONS, SOCIETIES, ETC. 

Masonic — Godfrey de Bouillon Commandery K. T., No. 11. Instituted 
October 28, 1871. First officers: E. A. Thielens, E. C"; F. K. La Fever, 
Gen.; J. B. Ayer, Capt. Gen. Present officers: Michael Meller. E. C. ; G. 
W. Shaw, Gen. ; G. W. Clark, Capt. Gen. ; C. G. Weymouth, Recorder. 
Regular conclave the second and fourth Fridays of each month. 

Mattoon Royal Arch Chapter, No. 85. Instituted October 26, 1865. First 
officers: James M. True, H. P.: S. J. Fisher, K. : W. 11. House, S. 
Present officers : Tiomas Davis, H. P. ; James Darnell, K. : J. H. Clark, S.; 
J. J. Ayer, Sec. Meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month, at their hall. 

Mattoon Lodge, No. 260, F. & A. M. Instituted in 1858 (oldest 
Masonic Lodge in town). First officers : N. W. Chapman, W. M. ; J. W. 
Dora, S. W\ ; J. B. Tayler, J. W. ; E. W. True, Treas. ; H. C. Rogers, Sec. 
Present officers; James L. Scott, W. M. : James H. Clark, S. AV. ; John F. 
Scott, J. W. ; I. Jennings, Treas. ; W. A. Bell, Sec. Meets first and third 
Mondays of each month, at their hall. 

Circle Lodge, No. 707. Instituted January 10, 1873. First officers: 
George Wenlock, W. M. : F. K. La Fever, S. W. : Benjamin S. Capen, J. W. ; 



390 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

William H. Lewis, Sec. Present ofiicers : J. B. Durnell, W. M. ; Thomas 
Davis, S. \\. ; J. A. Mulford, J. W. ; George W. Clark, Sec. Meets first and 
third Wednesdays of eacli month, at their hall. 

Eureka Lodge, No. 13. (Colored Masons.) First officers : Austin Perry, 
W. M. : Milford Norton. S. W. ; James Hunt, J. W. : David Smith, Treas. ; 
Henry Sweet, Sec. Present officers : Austin Pei-ry. W. M. ; I. W. Barnes, 
S. W. : C. Beacham. J. W. : Patrick Williams, Treas. : D. L. May, See. 
Meets first Monday of each month, at Kilner's Block. 

Masonic Benevolent Association. (Insurance.) Chartered August 23, 
1876. Officers : .Joseph H. Clark, Pres. ; J. Richmond. Vice Pres. : J. S. 
Anderson, Sec. ; J. R. Tobey. Trcas. : J. W. Dora. M. D.. Med. Ex. Has 

at present a membership of , and is steadily increasing. 

Odd Fellows — Mattoon Encampment, No. !>T. Instituted in 1868. First 
officers : John Owens, C. P. : J. D. Kilner, S. W. ; A. P. Frick, H. P. ; Elza 
McKnight, J. W. Present officers : J. D. Hawes. C. P. : Frank Garthwait, 
S. W. ; J. D. Kilner, H. P. : D. S. Coom, J. W. Membership, over seventy. 
Meets first and third Fridays of each month, in Kellerman's Building. 

Harmony Lodge, No. 551. First officers : F. M. Phipps, N. G. ; W. E. 
Murry, V. G. ; W. C. Drish, R. S. : George Goldgart, Treas. : S. A. Camp- 
bell, P. Sec. Present officers: John M. Kelley. N. (!. ; Henry Gochonour, 
V. G. ; Frank K. La Fever, R. S. ; A. Spitler, Treas. 

Coles County Lodge, No. 260. L 0. 0. F. Instituted in 1856 or 1857. 
Present officers: John Snyder, N. G. ; John Soules, V. G. ; Oliver Goggin, 
R. S. ; John Birch, Sec. : J. T. Kilner, Treas. Meets every Tuesday evening. 

Mattoon German Lodge, No. 414, I. O. 0. F. Instituted in 1864. Pres- 
ent officers ; John Kelley, N. G. ; Henry Gochonour, V. G. ; Frank La Fevv^r, 
Sec. ; Abram Spitler, Treas. Meets every Wednesday evening. 

Knights of Pythias. — Palestine Lodge, No. 46. Instituted April 7, 1874. 
First officers: S. A. Campbell, P. C; R. B. Moore, C. C; M. E. Boyd, V. 
C; R. B. AVoolsey, P.; George W.' Clark, M. of E.: Frank P. Clark, M. of F.; 
Ira B. Jackson, K. of R. S.; W. H. Augur, M.of A.; George E. Cartmell, I. 
G.; John A. M. Scott, O. G. Present officers: S. G. Tiley. P. C; C. B. 
Fry, C. C; J. B. Benefiel. V. C; Henry Wright, P.: Thomas" W. Gaw, M. of 
E.; William M. Chettle, M. of F.; D. McCaull, K. of R. S.; Thoma.s 
McClurry. M. of A.: .\nthony Stewart, I. G.; Robert Owenby, 0. G. Number 
of members, fifty. Jleets first and third Thursday cveninErs of eacli month, at 
their Castle Hall, West Broadway. 

K. of P. Endowment. — Section. No. 148. Instituted in April, 187-^. 
First officers: Charles B. Fry, President; Robert N. Gray, Vice President; 
John W. Hanna, Secretary and Treasurer ; Henry Wright, Chaplain ; W. Pat- 
rick, Guide; Henry Gullion, Guard; A. Stewart, Sentinel. Present officers : 
Charles B. Fry. President ; .John W. Hanna, Vice President : W. M. Chettle, 
Secretary and Treasurer: Henry Wright. Chaplain ; U. Culson, Guide : Henry 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 391 

Oullion, Guard ; Anthony Stewart, Sentinel. Membership, over twenty-five. 
Meets first and third Thursday evenings of each month, at K. of P. Hall. 

Knights of Honor. — Eureka Lodge, No. 598, instituted April 20, 1877, 
by William Obermeyer, with twenty-nine members. First officers : J. F. Drish, 
Past Dictator ; L. G. Roberts, Dictator ; Frank Noyes, Assistant Dictator ; J. 
G. Wright. Y. D.; P. B. Lynn, Reporter; R. S. Holding, F. Reporter; R. 
B. Roberts, Sentinel ; A. Danheiser. Guide ; George Beacham, Guardian. 
Present ofiicers : J. G. Wright, Past Dictator ; H. M. Coulter, Dictator ; S. R. 
Coddington, V. D.; Lee Schneller, Assistant Dictator: J. L. Matthews, 
Reporter : A. Danheiser, Fin. Reporter ; George Bugh, Treasurer ; J. M. 
Mitchell, Chaplain ; B. F. Hays, Guardian ; J. B. W^ard, Sentinel. Member- 
ship, over one hundred. Meet every Monday evening at their hall. East 
Broadway. 

Knights and Ladies of Honor — Alpha Lodge No. 28, instituted in April, 
1878. First officers: J. F. Drish, Pro.: Mrs. J. W. Hanna, V. Pro.; L. V. 
Woods, Sec; Mrs. W. W. Smith, Fin. Sec; Mrs. Ira James, Treas. Pres- 
ent officers : L.G.Roberts, Pro.; Mrs.Norvell, Y. Pro.; Harry Coulter, Sec; 
John Parmalee, Fin. Sec; Mrs. Yining. Treas. Meets second and fourth 
Thursdays each month in K. of H. hall. 

Excelsior Council R. T. of T. — Instituted January 10, 1879. First and 
present officers: 0. W. Gogin, S. C; B. W. Hunt, B. C; W. S. Hinkle, ]'. 
C; T. A. Allison, Sec; Calvin Moore, Treas.; U. T. S. Rice, Herald : W. 
J. Stotts, Sentinel. Meets every Friday evening. 

W' . C. T. U.— Organized June 5, 1878. First officers: Mrs. M. J. Hinkle, 
Pres.; Mrs. Thomas Clegg, Sec: Mrs. Lillie Mulford, Cor. Sec; Mrs. 
Maggie Duncan, Treas. Meets every Thursday afternoon in their hall. Fur- 
ther particulars of this society, its objects, etc., are given in the history of the 
city. 

ASHMORE TOAVNSHIP. 

This town is pretty well divided between prairie and woodland, the latter, 
perhaps, predominating to some extent. Its timber is principally oak, hickory, 
sugar-maple, and a light scattering of walnut. The townshij) is watered by the 
main branch of the Embarrass River flowing along its western boundary, 
together with several smaller streams which have their source in its territory, the 
most important of which is Pole Cat Creek. The sweet-scented name of this 
stream was derived, it is said, from the fact that a new-comer fii'st learned upon 
its classic banks the power and alacrity of that species of feline to defend itself 
against its enemies. Ashmore is bounded on the north by Oakland Township ; 
on the west by the Embarrass RiVer; on the south and east by Hutton Town- 
ship and Edgar County, and is much larger than a regular Congressional town- 
ship- It is a fine agricultural region, and contains many excellent farms. The 
Indianapolis & St. liOuis Railroad passes nearly through its center from east to 



392 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

west, and has been of incalculable benefit to the town. The village of Ashmore. 
which will be again alluded to in this chapter, is a thriving place, and the ship- 
ping point for a large scope of country. 

FIRST SETTLEMEXT. 

The first white men who made claims in the territory now embraced in Ash- 
more were the Dudleys. James Dudley entered land here in 1826. He was 
originally from New Hampshire, but had been for several years a resident 
of Edgar County before coming to this section. When he entered land here he 
put his brother, Guilford Dudley, on it, and Laban Burr, a son of Laban Burr, 
one of the early settlers of Edgar County, and he remained for several years 
afterward in that county before coming to his new possessions. Guilford Dudley 
and Laban Burr were both single men, and kept " bachelor's hall " for several 
years. Coles County, at the time of which we write, was a part of Clark, and 
the first frame barn erected in what now comprises both counties, was put up on 
the Dudley farm about 1830. ' It was a frame structure, as we have said, of the 
New England pattern, and after the frame had been " raised," a man of 
the name of McCracken climbed to the top of it to christen it by name, as he 
said was the custom down in New England. With all due solemnity, and "in 
the name of the good people present," he pronounced the name of "Bachelor's 
Delight and the Pride of the Fair," and then rhrew away the bottle, though, as 
our informant expressed it, bottles then were rather scarce. What use they had 
for a bottle in such a ceremony we are unable to conjecture. The romantic name 
under which the barn was christened appears a little contradictory, and the latter 
clause a misnomer, as the household at that time was said to have been a bachelor 
one. The " raising " of the edifice was (juite an event, and men came from the 
"Big Creek" settlement (in Edgar County) to assist in the enterprise. 

Guilford Dudley, after taking to himself a wife, entered land a short 
distance from his brother's place, on which he remained until his death several 
years after. His youngest son, Elbridge Dudley, now occupies the place. 
Laban Burr eventually married Miss Melissa Sutherland, of Grand View Town- 
ship (Edgar County), and entered land south of Dudley's, in what is now Hutton 
Township. James Dudley, . mentioned above as the first to enter land in this 
section, after living a bachelor until the mid-day of life, married a widow lady 
named Brown. He sold his farm to a paan of the name of Olmstcad about 
1837, and returned to the East. Adam Cox is supposed to have been from Ken- 
tucky, and settled in this township in 1826-27. He located near Dudley's, and, 
after remaining there a number of years, sold out and removed to Jasper 
County, and finally to Missouri, where he died. He settled in the " Big 
Creek " neighborhood before coming to this county. 

Job AV. Brown was born in the old Nutmeg State, but his parents removed 
10 Kentucky when he was ten years old, where they resided several years ; then 
came to Lawrence County, 111., atid, in January, 1825, removed to Walnut 



HISTORV OF COLES COUNTY. 393 

Grove, at that time considered the very outskirts of civilization. In I808, he, 
with his father, Jonathan W. Brown, took a contract to build two sections of the 
Terre iiaute & Alton Railroad, which they completed in 1840, and, the same 
TO- r. he settled in Ashmore Township, on a farm he still owns, and upon which 
lit' resided until 1877, when he retired from active labor, and removed into the 
village of Ashmore, where he at present lives, enjoying a competency won by 
honest toil. Mr. Brown tells the following story of his "sparking" days: 
There was living in the neighborhood a family with a grown-up daughter of 
whom he was rather fond. After a time, the family moved away some distance 
to the northwest, and he would mount his horse semi-occasionally and ride out 
to see her. As the country palaces in those times usually consisted of one 
room, which served as parlor, dining-room, bedchamber, kitchen, etc., " it 
required a good deal of courage,", he said, " to corner his girl under such cir- 
cumstances," but he " at length got used to it." Upon an observation from 
us, that, had we lived in those primeval days, we would have done our sparking 
in the summer time, when, with the fair one of our choice, we might have wan- 
dered in the •' darkling wood, amidst the cool and silence," or lingered beside 
the " purling brook, as it meandered over its pebbly bottom," etc., etc., he 
(juietly remarked that " where there was a will there was a way," and that 
'' people in a backwoods country could get used to almost anything." 

The severest punishment, he said, that he ever received at school, was given 
him by his father when going to school to him. The boys and girls were allowed 
to " sit around the room promiscuously," and •' all mixed up together." He 
was quite a large boy, and one day a pretty little Fi-ench girl chanced to be 
sitting next him, when, upon the spur of the moment, he put his arm around 
her, drew her to him and kissed her — "for her mother." His father did not 
see the performance, but the titter that ran round the room "gave him away." 
The old gentleman forced some timid little fellow to tell the cause of the laugh, 
when he walked him and the little girl out in the middle of the room and com- 
pelled him to repeat the operation. He braced himself for the ordeal and went 
through it like a little man, but he observed that his " heart was not in it as 
it was the first time." 

John Carter, Pearson and .John Wiley. John Wright, Thomas Reed, James 
Wells, John K. Spears, William H. Galbraith, C. L. Duncan, William Woods, 
Joseph Epperson, Charles'D. Phelps and Fountain Turner were from the old Blue- 
Grass State. Cai'ter was from the Crab Orchard country, and came to Illinois in 
1830, arriving in this township on the 13th of April, and settled a short dis- 
tance east of the present village of Ashmore. He has two sons living — Shelton 
Carter, in Ashmore Township, and Joseph Carter, in Morgan Township ; both 
are honorable, upright citizens. A daughter married John Austin, and lives on 
the place where Mr. Carter built his first cabin. Mrs. Joseph Reed is also a 
daughter, and Mrs. Catharine Young, living in Washington Territory. Mr. 
Carter died in July, 1841. The Wileys came in 1829, and settled some two or 



394 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

three miles from the village of Ashmore. Pearson moved to Parker Prairie, 
and John to Douglas County, where he died. Wright settled near the Wileys, 
and came about a year afterward. They had all first settled on Big Creek, be- 
fore coming to this settlement, but had not remained long in that locality. 
Reed came in 182!', and settled about one and a half miles nortiieast of the vil- 
lage of Ashmore, and has been dead a number of years. He died on his origi- 
nal settlement, and where his son Caleb Reed now lives. Mrs. Walton, a 
daughter, lives in the town, and Mrs. Galbraith. another daughter, lives in 
Hickory Township. James Wells settled about three miles south of the village 
of Ashmore. His father was a native of Maryland, and removed to Bracken 
County, Ky., at an early day : was one of the very earliest settlers in that part 
of the State. James Wells, alluded to above, came here in 1830. and still owns 
the original place on which he settled, but for a year or two past has been liv- 
ing with his son-in-law, Mr. O'Brien, in the village of Ashmore. John K. 
Spears was from Jefferson County, near the city of Louisville, and came to this 
township in 1834, settling near Hitesville, He died in 1838 ; a son, Dr. A. 
K. Spears, is living in Charleston. Woods came to Coles County in 1834, and 
located in the east part of Ashmore Township, and died in 1878. He has but 
one son living, Thomas Woods, residing on the old homestead. Joseph Epper- 
son settled in the township the same year as Woods, and came from the same 
county (Madison) in Kentucky. He died in 1850, leaving several children in 
this part of the country to perpetuate his name. Phelps came in 1830, and set- 
tled in Ashmore Township. He had a large family of children, most of whom 
still live in Coles County. Mr. Phelps died in 1856. Turner settled in the 
township in 1834, where he still resides, one of the solid men of the county. 
He and his wife have been living together for more tiian sixty years, and are iiale 
and hearty for their age. Galbraith came to Coles County in 1830. His 
father was a native of Pennsylvania, but removed to Kentucky in an early ilay. 
He was a soldier and an ofiBcer of the Revolutionary war, and served seven 
years under Washington ; was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at York- 
town, and one of the guard of that noted prisoner for some time. He removed 
from Kentucky to Indiana in 181lJ, and the son above mentioned to Coles 
County, as noted, in 1830, where he still lives. Coleman L. Duncan, though 
but a few years in Coles County, has lived just over the line in Clark since 
1831.1. and can give as vivid accounts of the privations of the early settlers 
as any man now living. He resides with his son-in-law. Dr. Steele, of Ash- 
more. 

Hezekiah Ashmore came from Middle Tennessee, in 1830, and settled in 
what is now Oakland Township, atid, in 1836, removed to this town. It, 
together with the village of Ashmore, was named for him. Mr. Ashmore 
landed here with 371 cents in his pocket, but, realizing that fortune smiles on 
those who help themselves, he went to work, and, as fast as he accumulated a 
little money, invested it in land, so that, at the time of his death, he owned 



I 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 396 

l,oOO acres. He was one of the early Justices of the Peace, and one of the 
County Conimissioners for a number of years. He died in 1872. leaving a 
numerous progeny in the county. William Austin was also from Tennessee, and 
came to Illinois in lS2it. He settled where the village now stands, and, the 
ground occupied by this thriving little burg was the first land which he culti- 
vated after settling in the neighborhood. His original log cabin is still stand- 
ing, though its identity is nearly lost in the modern improvements made to it, 
since it first served to shelter a pioneer family from the inclemencies of the 
weather. It has been weather-boarded and otherwise improved, and is occupied 
by Mr. O'Brien. Mr. Austin has been dead a number of years, but has numer- 
ous descendants still residing in the county, to perpetuate an honored name. 
Chri.stopher Sousely is another of the early settlers, and came to this township 
in 1828. He is still living, but has grown foeblo as well as aged, and is wait- 
ing in patience for the summons to come. Joseph Henry and his son, Dr. A. M. 
Henry, Isaac Hill and a Mr. Forrest, were also early settlers, but of them not 
much could be learned. AVilliam Birch came from England, in 183.3, and 
stopjied in Pennsylvania, where he spent three years. He occupied an old house 
near Philadelphia, once the residence of William Penn. In 1836, he came to 
Illinois, and settled near Hitesville, in this township, and died in April, 1864. 
He has a son living near Charleston. Enos Barnes came from North Carolina, 
and settled two miles north of the village of Ashmore. He was a soldier of 
1812, and was with Old Hickory, at the battle of New Orleans. He emi- 
grated to Kentucky, where he remained until 1830, when he came to Illinois, 
as above. His original cabin stood until 1877. He died in 1872; his wife 
died in 1855, but one or two sons still live in the township. William H. Brown 
and Thomas W. Hallock were from New York; the latter settled in 1837, and 
Brown in 1839. Both are still living and are successful farmers. 

John Mitchell was a native of the Palmetto State, but had lived successively in 
Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana, before immigratmg to Illinois. He settled 
in Coles County, in 1828, in the edge of the Embarrass timber, in Ashmore 
Township, where he died some fifteen years afterward, and his wife a year later, 
leaving a family of eight children, only two of whom are now living, Will- 
iam B. Mitchell, in the State of Kansas, and Mrs. Galbraith, wife of James 
Galbraith, in this townshiji. The condition of the country at the time Mr. 
Mitchell settled here, is illustrated in the fact that one of his sons, Robert 
Mitchell, went to Darwin, on the Wabash River, a distance of forty miles, for a 
marriage license. Rev. S. J. Bovell is a son of one of the pioneer preachers 
of Illinois. He was born in Washington County, East Tennessee, and came to 
this county with his mother's family, in 1835. His father was a native of the 
Old Dominion, and a graduate of Washington College, and, in 1825, received 
a call to the Presbyterian Church at Paris, 111., but died in three months after 
taking charge. His widow removed to Coles, as above noted, and located 
southwest of Charleston. Mr. Bovell remained on the farm with his mother 



396 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

until he was twenty years of age, when, after completing his education, he 
taught in various States, and, in 1861, was licensed to preach, and, at present, 
is Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in the village of Ashmore. 

Elder Peter K. Honn came from Kentucky in 1835, and stopped for a short 
time in Edgar County, and from there went to Sangamon County, where he 
remained about six months, working at his trade (blacksmith), after which he 
came to Coles County and located at Hitesville, in this township, and opened a 
blacksmith-shop, which he continued for several years. In the mean time he 
purchased a quarter-section of land, which he improved in connection with his 
trade of a blacksmith. He eventually abandoned his shop and devoted his 
attention to his farm, until 1875, when, having accumulated a sufficiency of this 
world's goods, he retired from active labor, and removed to the village of Ash- 
more, where he at present lives in the enjoyment of a well-earned competence. 
Some five years after coming to the county, he was ordained a minister of the 
Christian Church, and his experience as a pioneer preacher is vast and varied, 
sometimes bordering on the extremely ludicrous, as is but natural in a back- 
woods country. With no intentional disrespect to the Gospel (for of it we enter- 
tain the profoundest veneration), but as an illustration of the state of the coun- 
try at that time, and by way of embellishment of dry historical facts, we give 
some of the experiences of the old soldier of the Cross, as i-elated to us by him- 
self. Upon a certain occasion, when this country was the very center of the 
backwoods, he and another preacher, whom he denominated Brother E., made a 
missionary or preaching tour, at the latter 's special request, through Clark, 
Crawford, Jasper and Cumberland Counties, and through the southern part of Coles, 
to their homes. The stipulation was, that wherever they stopped they should 
preach alternately. After swinging around the circle into Jasper County, 
Brother E. informed him that they would stop at Brother So-and-So's to dinner, 
the leading man of the neighborhood, a pillar of the church in that section, and 
where, it seems. Brother E. had been before. He told Mr. Honn that they 
were good people, but not as tidy and neat as they might be, and he would have 
to harden up a little. Upon their arrival, Mr. Honn found that this nabob 
lived in a mansion composed of one room, which served all purposes a residence 
is usually subjected to, and very soon dinner was begun " for the preachers " 
by a grown-up daughter, while the lady of the mansion sat on one side of the 
fire-place smoking a cob-pipe, and the lord and master on the other side indul- 
ging in alike luxury, the preachers occupying scats in front of the fire, looking 
on, Mr. Honn admits, with some interest. After a wliile the girl lifted a pot 
off the fire, and opened it apparently to see the state of its contents, while the 
odor was quite strange to him, and he nudged Brother E. and asked him what 
it was, who replied that it was stewed coon. He at once thought of the hard- 
ening-up process, and being a little particular as to his food, was somewhat 
doubtful as to whether he should enjoy a very hearty dinner or not. He dis- 
covered eventually, however, that his stomach was not quite so sensitive as 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 397 

Brother E.'s. After the coon was cooked to her satisfaction, she brought forth 
some side pork, very fat, placed it in a skillet and fried the grease all out of it, 
leaving a pint or so of lard in the skillet. Next she produced a "crock " full 
of buckwheat batter, which she poured into the skillet (not all at once), and he 
had noticed that a portion of the hem of some of her undergarments had been 
torn from its native place and was dangling within an inch or two of the floor, 
and as she would move about the fire, it would now and then draggle in the fry- 
ing batter. Brother E. looked at him and he looked at Brother E., and he 
noticed that the latter had grown rather pale, so that when dinner was announced 
a little later, he could eat but a few mouthfuls. He kept his eye on Brother E. 
and, shortly after dinner was over, noticed that he appeared quite uneasy and 
looked very pale. Finally he rose rather hastily and left the room, and upon 
following him out, found him behind the house " calling New York " lustily. 
That evening he had to preach for Brother E.* 

He was once called upon to perform a marriage ceremony at the house of 
one of the well-to-do pioneers. When he arrived at the cabin, he found the 
bride in waiting, dressed in all the glory of backwoods beauty and fashion, and 
the groom ditto. Among the '' assembled guests " were two very large and 
ungainly curs, walking about the room with as much liberty as (to use a slang 
expression) blind dogs in a meat-house." After the marriage, all were invited 
to a sumptuous dinner, the dogs included ; or, if the latter were not invited, 
they cheeked it, and went in on their own responsibility. When the repast was 
well under way. some one dropped a bone, or threw it down to the dogs for the 
purpose of creating a little excitement. If for the latter purpose, they suc- 
ceeded beyond their most sanguine expectations. They clinched in battle (the 
dogs) with savage ferocity, rolled under the table growling, biting and chawing 
each other generally. Said Mr. Honn ? " And what did the fair bride, faint ? 
Not much. But sprang on to a chair, and in a high state of excitement, 
clapping her delicate (?) hands, she yelled at the top of her voice, 'sick 'em ! 
sick 'em ! sick 'em I' " After the guests succeeded in separating the dogs, din- 
ner was finished in peace and quiet. 

One other episode from Mr. Honn's pioneer experience, and we will pass 
on. A young mtin of the neighborhood, who was addicted to sowing wild oats 
with a profuse hand, finally concluded to marry and settle down, and to 
this end, succeeded in persuading a girl living some miles away, to unite her 
fortunes with his. The mother of the bridegroom elect, who was a highly 
respectable lady, thinking or at least hoping, that marriage would work a 
reformation in her wayward son, had exerted herself to bring about the union, 
and had prepared a wedding feast for the occasion. He had brought the girl to 
his mother's, where the marriage was to take place, and all things being in readi- 
ness, he posted off to Charleston for the documents that were to bind together 

" Two souls with but a. single thought, 
Two hearts that beat as one." 

*.\s it happened it w.ig Brother E.'a tioie to preach, but his dinuer had bo upset him that he could not come to tini«« 



398 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

But at Charleston the devil tempted hirn, or perhaps he met with some of his 
old chums, got drunk, and finally got in jail, where he was detained two or 
three days in '"durance vile." When set at liberty, he struck out for home, 
came by Mr. Honn's, and asked him to go to his mother's with him as he was 
going to be married, and wanted him to tie the nuptial knot. Thinking the 
fellow was jesting, he demurred, as it was then getting dusk, but he stoutly 
asserted that he was in earnest, so Mr. Honn said, "Well, you show me the 
marriage license and give me a dollar, and I will submit to being fooled, and 
will go with you. ' To this he assented, paying over the last <lollar he had, 
and Mr. Honn mounted his horse and away they went. Upon arriving, the 
house was dark, and everybody apparently abed. Mr. Honn told him that did 
not look much like a wedding, but he said it wa.>< all right. When they went 
in they found all abed, sure enough. A married daughter was living with the 
old lady, and into the room where she was in bed, he was conducted by the 
young man, handed a chair and asked to take a seat. The expectant bride- 
groom inquired of his sister where the girl was, calling her by name, and was 
informed that she was sleeping in the next room. ''I'll bring her out," said 
he, Mr. Honn sitting by all this time, taking in the ludicrous position in 
which he was placed. The young man went in where the girl was in bed, and 
for a long time he heard them in earnest conversation, he beujffing her to get 
up and be married, and she refusing. She told him he had "gone back on 
her," that she had sent her clothes home and had nothing to wear (unwittingly 
quoting Flora McFlimsey) but an old, dirty calico dress. But as it usually 
turns out, the stronger prevailed over the weaker vessel, and she agreed to 
"get up and get married," provided his sister would loan her a dress. This 
modest request being granted, she arose, arrayed herself in her si>=ter-in- law's 
(as was soon to be) "good clothes," the knot wa*! tied. The pair was spliced, 
and the officiating minister returned to his home, with a consciousness that, if 
he had earned his dollar, he had at least enjoyed the earning of it. 

THE NOBLE RED MAN. 

In common with other portions of the country, this section was at one time 
in possession of the Indians, and the.se forests the hunting-grounds of "ye 
noble red men." They were plenty here long after the whites began settle- 
ments in the country. We have heard of no outrages committed by them in 
this immediate vicinity on the white people, but elsewhere in this history, is told 
how " war's fierce conflict raged," and battles are described that were fought on 
the " sacred soil" of Coles County, between the savages and their pale-i'aced 
enemies. But these events belong not to this chapter. Mr. J. W. Brown, 
mentioned among the early settlers of this township, gives us the following 
Indian experience: An Indian settlement, adjacent to his father's, was under 
the administration of a chief named Ka-Nec-Kuck, a fine-looking specimen of 
the "noble red man, " somewhat intelligent and very religious. He sometimes 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 399 

tried to preach, would go into a trance and see visions, which he would detail 
to his people. In his tribe was a warrior whose mind had lost its balance, and 
he was at times dangerously crazy. On one occasion he was shown some 
pictures of Bible scenes, among them a serpent representing the devil. Upon 
looking at the frightful picture, a shudder appeared to thrill his entire frame, 
and, seizing a rifle, he shot an Indian named Black Beaver dead in his tracks 
before he could be restrained, or before any one seemed to realize his intention. 
The chief, Ka-Nee-Kuck, with a deputation, came to Mr. Brown's father, 
Jonathan W. Brown, for his opinion as to what ought to be done with a man 
under such circumstances. Mr. Brown explained to them that the man was 
not responsible for the deed, as he was insane and ignorant of the great crime 
he had committed, and they should properly secure him to prevent a repetition 
of the deed. They took him to a grove of timber and tied him to a tree, but 
with the inordinate cunning, common to crazy people, he succeeded in making 
his escape. Black Beaver, the man killed, was buried in Mr. Brown's pasture, 
but, in that early day, as well as in the present age of refinement, the graves 
of the dead were not always left in undisturbed repose, and the body of Black 
Beaver was resurrected (it was supposed by a medical student named Smith) to 
promote the cause of science. These Indian scenes are all long past, and the 
very existence of Indians in this country is almost forgotten. Very few are 
living who remember them from personal knowledge. They have faded away 
in the mists of the past, just as the pioneer's hut, with its yawning fire-place 
extending across one end. its puncheon floor, and its cracks chinked and daubed 
with mud, have passed away. These old relics of the by-gone days, and the 
ox-teams, the old barshare and Gary plows, the scythe and cradle, and the reap- 
hook will soon be nothing more than fire-side tales. As we view the flying 
railroad train, the patent reapers and mowers, the plows now in use, the mag- 
nificent residences dotting the plain, and the beautiful villages scattered here 
and there, we are forced to acknowledge that the strides of invention and im- 
provement of the past fifty years have far exceeded the wildest stretch of human 
calculation, and we turn from contemplating the world's progress, to muse on 
what the next half a century may produce. 

.SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, STORES, ETC 

The first schoolhouse in the township was built on the hill near " Pole Cat 
Bridge," about 1832-33, and was the usual type of the backwoods schoolhouse, 
viz., built of round logs, covered with clapboards, chinked and daubed with mud, 
the fire-place taking up one end of the building, a puncheon floor — sometimes 
mother earth furnished the floor. This was the ordinary temple of learning in 
those days, and the school commonly consisted of a dozen or so dirty urchins, 
presided over by an old-fogy schoolmaster, as represented in the following lines : 

" Old Master Brown brought his ferule down. 

And his face looked angry and red. 
' Go, seat you there, now, Anthony Blair, 

Along with the girls," he said. 



400 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

" Then Anthony Blair, with mortified air, 
With his head down on his breast. 
Took his penitent seat, by the maiden sweet. 
That he loved, of all, the best. 
" And Anthony Blair seemed whimpering there. 
But the rogue only made believe ; 
For he peeped at the girls with the beautiful curls, 
And ogled them over his sleeve." * 

The first school taught in Ashmore Township was by a man named Foster, 
before building the schoolhouse above named. Who first taught in the house 
mentioned, our informant had forgotten. The educational facilities have in- 
creased, however, since the days of these old-time schools, in proportion to the 
increase and improvement in everything else. The town is advantageously 
laid out in school districts, elegant and comfortable houses erected, competent 
teachers employed and the cause of education liberally supported. 

Rev. Isaac Hill is supposed to have preached the first sermon in Ashmore 
Township. He and his son, I. B. Hill, were among the early settlers of the 
county, and the elder Hill was a local preacher. Rev. John Steele was another 
of the early preachers, and is further alluded to in the history of Hitesville. 
Elder P. K. Honn is also one of the pioneer preachers of the town. The only 
church edifice in the township outside of the villages and hamlets, is Enon 
Jlissionary Baptist Church, in the southern part. It is quite an elegant brick 
edifice, and cost between §2,000 and $2,500, and was ©rected in 1875. It was 
dedicated by Rev. Mr. Riley (now of Paris) soon after its completion. The 
first Pastor was Rev. Mr. Thornton ; the present one is Rev. A. Jones, and the 
society numbers about fifty members. Its numbers have been considerablj' 
lessened by death and removals. A flourishing Sunday school is maintained 
during the summer, but is usually disbanded at the beginning of the winter 
season. Other church history is more fully given in that of the villages. 

Tlie first stores in the town will be mentioned in the history of the villages 
and hamlets, as will many other points generally occurring in the township 
histories. The first regular blacksmith in the town of Ashmore was Peter K. 
Honn, one of the early settlers, and who opened a shop at Hitesville soon after 
coming to the settlement. .John Carter was a blacksmith, but did not follow it 
as a regular business, and when Honn opened a shop, quit it altogether. 
The first death in the settlement it is supposed was a child of Adam Co.x's, and 
occurred about 1831. It was buried in the grave-yard laid out near Mr. Wells', 
and was the first occupant of that little city of the dead. The first marriage 
and the first birth are alike forgotten, but that "such have been," the present 
population stands as incontrovertible evidence. 

VILLAGE OF ASHMORE. 

Ashmore is situated on the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad, about seven 
miles east of Charleston. It was surveyed and laid out February 14, 1855, by 

* For a truthful upplicntiun uf t!io8e linea. tlio n-;i<ifr is rfforred to " I'ocU' Jobey " itpowu, who can give a some- 
what similar experioDCO. 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 403 

H. J. Ashmore and James D. Austin, and for the former of whom it was named. 
The entire village stands on the original Austin farm ; Ashmore had bought 
out some of the Austin heirs, and hence owned a part of the land when the 
village was laid out. The first store was opened by John Hogue, on the laying 
out of the place. McAllister & Ashmore, who had a store on the road, half a 
mile southwest of the town " before it was," moved their store to the new village, 
and became the second house of the kind in Ashmore. Van Dyke & Hogue put 
up the first dwelling in the little village. The first blacksmith-shop was kept 
by William English. The Waters boys started a wagon-shop about the same 
time. The first mill in the village was built by J. A. Brown in 1856, and was 
burned some three or four years afterward. A brother of Brown's was the first 
railroad agent at Ashmore. The present mill was built by Clement & Fish, 
about 1866. It stands near the railroad track, just east of the station, is a 
frame building, with two runs of buhrs and does a good business. It is owned 
at present by Chris Miller, an efficient man, who thoroughly understands the 
milling business. The first tavern was kept by H. J. Ashmore, is still standing 
and kept at present by A. B. McDavid. The village boasts of another hotel, 
the Franklin House, kept by John Franklin. The first post oflice was estab- 
lished on the laying out of the village, with Thomas O'Brien as Postmaster. 
Elias Monroe represents Uncle Sam in the post ofiice department here at pres- 
ent. The first schoolhouse was built in 1857-58, and was a kind of partnership 
affair with the religious people. It was finally purchased for school purposes, 
and so used until the building of the present edifice. AVashington Boyer and 
Charles P. Scott were the first teachers in the village, but which one has the 
honor of teaching the first school cannot be ascertained. Prof. R. H. Chase is 
Principal of the school at present, and Miss Roma Carter, assistant teacher. 
The present fine brick schoolhouse was built in 1871, is two-stories high and 
cost about $3,000. 

A summary of the business of Ashmore presents the following showing : 
four general stores — Zimmerman & Monro3, F. M. Waters, Waters Brothers & 
Davis and J. R. Snyder ; three grocery stores — Joshua Rickets, Peter Shleppy 
and George O'Brien ; two drug stores — A. F. Robertson and W. R. Comstock ; 
five physicians — Drs. Van Dyke, Steele, Robertson, Hobart and Honn ; one 
hardware store — Austin, Brown & Kimball, who also handle lumber, furniture 
and agricultural implements; stoves and tinware, J. A. Brown; shoe-shop, J. 
H. Poulson ; harness-shop, James C. Coulson ; marble-shop, Charles E. Cox ; 
four blacksmith-shops — Charles W. Waters (both wood and iron), P. B. Parcell, 
John Mell and Woodworth & Ault; two wood-shops — Thomas Kincade and 0. 
D. Stoddert. It is a flourishing littje village, with a set of wide-awake, ener- 
getic business men. In addition to the above business directory, there is a grain 
warehouse, which does quite a business. Considerable grain is shipped from 
this point, mostly however, by the merchants of the place, who buy in a small 
way. A good deal of stock, cattle and hogs, is also shipped from this station. 



404 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

THE CHURCHES. 

The village of Ashmore boasts of three very stylish church edifices, viz., 
Methodist Episcopal, Cumberland Presbyterian and Old-School Presbyterian. 
The first religious society organized in the village, or now located in the village, 
was the Methodist. It was originally organized in the neighborhood in 1831, 
by Rev. Joseph Henry, a local preacher, with the following members : Dr. 
West and wife, C. Sousely and wife, Joseph Mclntire and wife, Robert Modrell 
and wife,' J. H. Modrell and wife, Matthew McLain and wife, James Hubanks 
and wife, William Austin. Sr., and his daughters, Frances and Mahala, Samuel 
P. Burr, George Modrell, Margery Modrell, Sarah Hubanks, Ruth Clark, 
Jennie Clark and Elizabeth Clark, and perhaps some others. The name of the 
first preacher, or circuit-rider, was Rev. Mr. Rhimon. The first church was 
built in 1869, in the village, and cost about ^2,500. About 1838, in conjunc- 
tion with the Presbyterians, they built a log church some two miles west of the 
village, which they used for a number of years. This log church, school- 
houses and settlers' cabins were their places of worship, until the building 
of their church in Ashmore, and the organization has been kept up ever sine* 
first established in 1831. The present membership is thirty-five, and J. A. 
Burke, Pastor. The first Sabbath school was organized in 1831, by Methodists 
and Presbyterians, William Austin and James Hite, Superintendents, and has 
been run as a union school ever since, until last summer, when the Methodists 
organized a separate school. It numbers about eighty or ninety scholars, with 
L. C. Fell, Superintendent. 

Hebron Church, of the Old-School Presbyterians, was organized on 
the 19th June, 1841, by a committee appointed by Palestine Presbytery, 
consisting of Revs. Isaac Bennett and James Reasoner, and Ruling Elders J. 
Balch and VV'illiam CoUom. The original members who went into the organiza^ 
tion were Robert Brooks, Mary Brooks, James H. Bovell, Jane M. Bovell, 
Alfred J. L. Brooks, Mary Brooks, Robert A. Brooks, Samuel Hogue, Letitia 
Hogue, Sarah Moffett, James Motfett. Thomas C. Mitchell, Isabella A. Mitchell, 
Margaret J. Mitchell and Cynthia Moffett. The first Ruling Elders were 
Thomas C. Mitchell and Robert Brooks. Rev. Isaac Bennett preached occai 
sionally for the Church for one year. He was succeeded by Rev. John 
McDowell, who preached twice a month for two years, beginning in May, 1842. 
Rev. John Steele was stated supply for the Church from 1844 to 1849, giving it 
one-half of his time. He was succeeded by Rev. Joseph A. Jams in February, 
1849, who supplied the pulpit for two years. From 1851 to 1855, Rev. James 
Cameron, who lived in Charleston, preached occasionally. For the next ten 
years, from 1855 to 1865, various ministers were connected with the church as 
stated supplies, giving it a part of their time from their other charges in the 
following order: Revs. John McDole, A. J. Cameron, R. A. Mitchell, James 
A. Allison, H. I. Venable and Nathaniel Williams. In October, 1865, Rev. 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 405 

S. J. Bovell was called to the charge as stated supply, and has without any 
interruption continued to hold this relation up to the present time. Since its 
organization, 160 peri?ons have been received into membership, about 60 now 
constituting the membership, the depletion being caused by death and removals. 
Only three of the original members are now living, viz., A. J. L. Brooks, 
James Moffett and Letitia Hogue. I. S. Wright, I. M. Moffett, T. J. Bull 
and A. J. L. Brooks are the Ruling Elders. The first church-building was 
located two miles west of the village of Ashmore, near the former residence of 
James Galbraith, and was a log .structure, and built in connection with the 
Methodists. In li^67, a neat and commodious church-building was erected in 
the village, at a cost of $-3,300, but the organization still retained the name of 
Hebron, and was known as Hebron Church, under the care of Mattoon Presbytery. 
The church was dedicated on the 20th of October, 1867. The history of 
the Sabbath school is similar to that of the Methodist Church above given, and 
was a union school with that church until the past summer, when the school 
was divided. 

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in 1858, under the 
ministerial charge of Rev. James Ashmore, who was the first regular Pastor. 
The church was commenced in 1866 and completed the following year. It is 
an elegant brick edifice and cost about $7,500, and is under the pastoral charge 
of Rev. A. B. McDavid, with a membership of about one hundred and twenty- 
five. H. J. Ashmore, one of the benevolent citizens of Ashmore, contributed 
to the building of this church edifice $>3,500. While it was in process of erec- 
tion, the agent of the Cumberland Presbyterian College at Lincoln, 111., came 
to the village, and hearing of Mr. Ashmore's liberality, called on him to know 
how much interest he wanted in the Lincoln College. " Two hundred dollars," 
replied Mr. Ashmore, and paid over the money. A Sunday school was organ- 
ized by this church in 1860, and has an average attendance of 120, under the 
superintendence of 0. F. Ashmore. 

Ashmore Lodge, No. 390, was organized in the fall of 1863, with the fol- 
lowing charter members, viz. : A. N. Graham, AV. P. Ferris, Caleb Reed, Ham- 
ilton Bennett, J. A. Brown, M. W. Barnes, John Campbell, 0. D. Hawkins, 
W. S. Vanmeter, W. N. Young and Robert Boyd, of whom the following were 
the first set of officers : W. S. Vanmeter, Worshipful Master ; A. N. Graham, 
Senior AVarden ; Caleb Reed, Junior Warden ; John Campbell, Treasurer ; M. 
W. Barnes, Secretary ; W. P. Ferris, Senior Deacon ; W. N. Young, Junior 
Deacon, and Robert Boyd, Tiler. The present roll of officers are : P. B. 
Parcell, Worshipful Master ; W. R. Comstock, Senior Warden ; John Wood- 
worth, Junior Warden ; P. M. Shleppy, Treasurer ; L. C. Fell, Secretary ; W. 
E. Franklin, Senior Deacon ; Christian Miller, Junior Deacon, and I. N. 
Moon, Tiler, with the names of twenty-nine members on the records. 

The village of Ashmore was incorporated April 19, 1867, and the following 
Trustees elected to look after its welfare : Jacob A. Brown, Thomas O'Brien, 



406 HISTORY OF COLKS COUNTY. 

William Bass, William P. Ferris and A. F. Robertson. The Board organized 
by electing Jacob A. Brown and A. F. Robertson, Clerk. The present Board 
is as follows, viz. : Adam Coon, President, and Thomas O'Brien, William T. 
March, William L. Cox, Thomas Austin and John G. Parker. J. 0. Brown 
is Clerk, A. F. Robertson, Police Magistrate, and Thomas W. Hogue, Town 
Marshal. 

VILLAlJE OF HITESVILLE. 

Hitesville is an old village, or would be, if still in existence, but it has 
passed away, ''among the things that were." It was laid out April 15, 1835, 
by James Hite, for whom it was named, and who appears to have been an enter- 
prising citizen. At one time, it was quite a village, with stores, shops, and 
every appearance of becoming a town. But, railroads passing near, new- 
villages have sprung into being, which have literally swallowed up Hitesville, 
leaving scarce a trace to tell where it stood. At an early day, a Presbyterian 
Church was organized at Hitesville, by Rev. John Steele. The church was 
built almost entirely by Mr. Hite, the neighbors contributing but a small 
amount of the means toward its erection. Hite finally moved away, sold the 
church, which was converted into a dwelling, and used as such for awhile, and 
then torn down. Prior to its discontinuance as a church, however, the 
Christian denomination organized a church, and erected a building at this 
place, about 1840. It soon became too small for the increasing membership ; 
was sold, and a larger one built during the late war, at a cost of §2,500, and is 
a handsome frame building. Its present membership is something over 100, 
and has, since its organization, numbered 200 members, but has been 
thinned out by death and removals. The present Pastor is Elder James Steele, 
but Elder P. K. Honn has been the minister in charge of it almost from its 
organization, until age compelled him to retire from active labors. This is 
about all there is left to tell where Hitesville once stood. 

St. Omer was never laid out as a village, but at one time was a collection 
of perhaps half a dozen houses, a store, post office, bhicksmith-shop, etc. The 
Ashmores opened a store at the place many years ago, and a man named 
Hogue kept one on the road, about half a mile from St Omer, at the same 
time. But, like Hitesville, and from a similar cause, St. Omer has disappeared. 
A church and two or three dwellings are all that is left. The church belongs 
to the Cumberland Presbyterians, and is one of the pioneer church organiza- 
tions of Coles County. The society was originally organized in a schoolhouse 
near the present village of Ashmore, with thirty-seven members, on the 30th 
of May, 1842. John Mitchell, William Austin, Sr., and Alexander Mont- 
gomery were the first elders. Though originally organized near Ashmore, its 
membership was largely of St. Omer, and tlie church-building was erected at 
the latter place, about 1857, at a cost of ^1,200, not including the lot on whicli 
it stands. It is a frame building, 30x40 feet, with a membership at present of 
about one hundred, under the pastoral charge of Rev. A. B. McDavid. Its 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 407 

aggregate membership since organization is about three hundred and seventy. 
The present Elders are John Dollar, Josiah Bitner, J. Keran, Daniel Wicker 
and Milton W. Barnes ; the latter is the Clerk of the Board. The deacons 
are Joseph W. Bitner and John F. Childress. 

POLITICS AND WAR. 

Ashmore village and township, taken together, are Republican in politics. 
The war record of the town is good. In all of our little "scrimmages," Ash- 
more has participated, to a greater or less extent. The war of 1812, the Black 
Hawk war of 1832, the Mexican war, and our last unpleasantness, all had 
representatives from this section, and even one or two soldiers in the Revolu- 
tionary struggle afterward wandered to this region. In our last war, the great 
rebellion, many of the citizens shouldered their muskets and offered themselves 
to their country. The following are among the enlistments from this township 
so far as we have been able to gather them : Dr. A. F. Steele, Company C, 
Sixty-second Illinois Infantry ; Nathaniel Davis, Company H, Third Missouri 
Cavalry, as Sergeant ; William T. Moore, Company D, One Hundred and 
Thirty-third Indiana (100 days); Elias Moore, Company H, Fifty-ninth Illi- 
nois Volunteers ; F. M. Waters, One Hundred and Twenty-third Illinois Vol- 
unteers, as Chief Musician ; Joshua Rickets entered J. W. Bissell's Engineer 
Regiment of the West, as private, and was promoted to Second and then First 
Lieutenant, served twenty months, and resigned ; William C. Kimball, Com- 
pany H, One Hundred and Twenty-second Ohio Volunteers ; Sidney Epperson, 
Company H, Fifty-ninth Illinois Volunteers, promoted to Quartermaster; 
Rhodes Epperson, Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-third Illinois Vol- 
unteers ; Martin Turner, Company — , One Hundred and Twenty-third Illi- 
nois Volunteers, killed in battle of Perryville : Thomas J. Bull, Company C, 
Iowa Cavalry ; Adon Wiley, Company E, Seventy-ninth Illinois Vol- 
unteers. There were, perhaps, many others from the township, but we have 
been unable to learn their names. 



PLEASANT GROVE TOWNSHIP. 

This township is the middle one in the southern tier of townships in 
the county. It is a little irregular in shape, being bounded on the east by the 
Embarrass River, which follows a southern course, slightly inclining westward. 
The township is eleven sections long and four wide. This will give it forty- four 
sections, or 28,160 acres. As a part of the eastern sections are, however, 
in Hutton Township, there is probably not that amount of land by two thousand 
acres. The land is, in the main,^ excellent for farming purposes. It originally 
was nearly all covered with a dense growth of good timber, hence the township 
is among the earliest settled in the county. The only prairie of any size is one 
known by the very unclassical name of " Goose-Nest Prairie." It was probably 



408 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

a fine-looking piece of country to the eyes of the first white man who saw it ; 
but whether he gave it that name from finding a goose's nest there, or from its 
fancied resemblance to that repository of goose eggs, or whether he had been a 
classic student in his day, and had read of the fabled goose which laid a golden 
egg every day, and made it so valuable, is a matter of some difference of opinion. 
Some say the primeval white man here looked upon the scene spread out before 
him and exclaimed, " This is the very goose nest.'" Others afiirm he found a 
goose's nest here, and hence the name. If any of our readers care to pui'sue 
the subject to its end, and settle the point, we refer them to several old residents 
in the "Goose Nest " whom they can examine, and with whom they can argue 
the point. Which of the three origins is correct matters but little now ; 
one thing is certain, that name, so illustrative of the disposition of frontier life, 
will always stay. 

The timber originally found in this township, much of which yet remains, is 
composed of all varieties indigenous to this part of Illinois. The most valuable 
is now nearly all gone, that remaining consisting of a more common kind, and 
used chiefly for fire-wood and fencing. As much of this abounds, but little, if 
any, coal is used in the township. 

No streams of water traverse this part of the county, save a few small tribu- 
taries of the Embarrass and Muddy Creek. The largest is the little Indian 
Creek, which rises in Section 36, in La Fayette Township, and flows southeasterly 
almost entirely through Pleasant Grove. It has one small affluent, rising in Section 
3. Neither the main creek nor its branch is of a size to be of any practical use, 
save draina,ge. Two little creeks flow southward through the western part of the 
township, affording, like the Little Indian, a partial drainage to that part of 
country. The principal one is known as Big Muddy, from the character of its 
waters. Near it was an early settlement in this part of Coles County. The 
main surface of Pleasant Grove Township is somewhat undulating in appear- 
ance. There is not much wet land to be found in its borders. A few swamps 
are here and there to be seen, but these admit of easy drainage, and will, in 
time, all be brought under cultivation. 

On Section 23, in this township, exists a natural curiosity. On a spot of 
_ground, covering about one-half acre in extent, are ten springs, each sending 
forth a stream of remarkably cold water, highly impregnated with different 
medicinal qualities. What is strange, is that no two springs arc alike in the 
quality of water they emit. One spring will be highly impregnated with car- 
bonate of soda, while near it will be another impregnated with iron, another 
with chloride of sodium, and so on — as many difl'erent waters as there are 
springs. As all are medicinal in their qualities, many persons resort here for 
the cure of various diseases which these waters are supposed to benefit. _ Indeed, 
many are bettered by coming here, and it is the intention to fit up a place, so that 
accommodations can be furnished those desiring to come. The springs are 
now owned by Dr. Halbrook, who keeps, temporarily, many patients in his 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 409 

house, near the springs. The place evidences being a favorite resort of the 
Indians, as a great abundance of relics of these aboriginal inhabitants are 
found here. 

EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 
****** 
" Then, looking eastward o'er the plain, 
I saw a slowly-moving train 
Of objects coming, far away. 
Like schooners floating on the bay. 

■' Their whitened sails were neatly spread, 
And slowly on their course they sped, 
As, westward still they kept their way. 
Toward the setting orb of day." 

The picture presented by Mr. George Balch of the coming of the emigant, 
in the above lines, is vividly true of the arrival of the first settlers to Central 
Illinois. No railways then existed in the great West. Indeed, thej' were only 
known in the East, and were more dreaded in England, where they began, than 
liked. They were then in crude infancy, and were not thought of in the West. 
Hence, the picture of their "■whitened sails neatly spread," as the wagons of 
the pioneers came We.stward, is not in the least overdrawn. They came chiefly 
from the South — from Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama — as the sequel shows 
in the mention of each one. 

Emigrants coming from these various Southern localities, at that day, gen- 
erally converged at a point on the Ohio River, at or below Louisville. From 
there they came north, through Western Indiana, to Vincennes, the oldest set- 
tlement on the Wabash. From this place, sometimes they came directly west 
to their various localities, or went on north to Terre Haute, and from that place 
went to their chosen homes. Sometimes, however, they went on down the 
"beautiful river," on flatboats, to old Shawneetown, where they disembarked, 
reloaded their goods and themselves into their wagons, and came north to Carmi 
or Mount Carmel : from either of which places they could find routes north- 
ward. While on the w-ay, they encamped wherever night overtook them, gen- 
erally making some grove of trees and stream- of water their halting-places. 
Mr. Balch in his poem, from which two verses are already quoted, further 
describes their mode of camp-life. We subjoin it, as better descriptive of that 
scene than anything we have found : 

•' Four hundred miles behind them lay 
Their native land, so far away — 
Their childhood's home, their place of birth, 
Their father's and their mother's hearth. 

" Before them^tretched the boundless West, 
In all its native grandeur dressed ; 
Where, fresh from the Almighty's hand. 
There lay a second Promised Land. 



410 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

" But now the sun, adowu the west, 
In crimson clouds was robed for rest ; 
While in the east, with hidden sheen, 
The Goddess of the Night was seen, 

" Too modest to unveil her light 
Until her lord had passed from sight. 
The weary day being almost spent. 
The pilgrims halt and pilch their tent. 

■' Beside a limpid, babbling rill. 
With shady groves along the hill 
Where savage bands, in other days, 
Had seen their sparkling camp-fire blaze ; 

" And round it danced in savage glee 
Like beasts, as wild, like birds, as free. 
But as they now far west had fled. 
The pilgrims had no foes to dread. 

" Their jaded steeds were loosed, at will 
To crop the herbage from the hill ; 
Their sparkling camp-fire's cheerful light 
Kept back the gathering shades of night, 

" Which drew their sable curtains round 
The pilgrims' lonely camping-ground. 
While cheerful chats and cheering song 
Soon whiled a pleasant hour along 

" In which their meal had been prepared. 
And by each one was gladly shared. 
Then, ere the pioneers retire. 
They gather round their cheerful fire, 

" And talk of scenes in other years. 
Of rising hopes and boding fears, 
Of childhood's happy hours, now fled. 
Of once loved friends, who now are dead, 

" Of kindred dear, they left behind 
When starting west, new homes to find. 
In fancy saw the schoolhouse still, 
As once it crowned their college hill, 

" While in its shady groves they strayed, 
And ' hide-and-seek ' in fancy played ; 
Or gathered round their grape-vine swing 
And heard 'heir comrades' voices ring. 

" Those comrades too, had left their plays — 
Forever gone their childhood days — 
And now, with trusty sword and shield. 
Like them were on life's battle-tield. 

" Some talked of • mother's ' earnest prayer ; 
Some of * father's ' anxious care : 
These, too, they feared they ne'er would meet 
This side the ' city's golden street.' 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 4U 

" The little church, to tliem so dear. 
Engaged their thoughts and claimed a tear; 
They prayed that God would bless the place 
Where first they tasted of his grace. 

" They called to mind their pastor's care, 
His counsel wise, and faithful prayer; 
Rejoicing that they had a friend 
Whose prayers for them would still ascend 

" To God, who, though enthroned on high, 
Will hear the lowly when they cry. 
And now to Him their thoughts are turned, 
While in their hearts for Him they yearned : 

" For man is sure, when left alone, 
To think of God, and heaven and home. 
But darker grew the shjides of night. 
The evening star had passed from sight, 

" The Pleiades shone from on high 
Like sparkling gems set in the sky : 
While higher still Orion swung. 
And sweeter evening's anthems sung. 

" And there, around that lone camp-fire. 
Before the pioneers retire, 
They bow beneath the solemn grove 
And chant to God these lines of love. 

" With heart and voice, and bended knee, 
Our Father, God, we come to Thee; 
No temple built by human skill. 
No ritual made by human will. 
Have we to bring. 

" Our hearts shall be Thy temple home. 
Where Thou shalt reign, and Thou alone; 
And in these temples built for praise. 
Our humble notes of song we raise. 
Thy love to sing 

"We praise Thee for Thy constant care; 
For grace, the ills of life to bear ; 
For strength to help us on our way, 
And bread of life from day to day, 
Which we partake. 

" And now, we give ourselves to Thee, 
Oh, keep Thy trusting children free ! 
And guard us through the shades of night. 
And wake us with the morning light, 
For Jesus' sake. 

"Thus trusting on a Sovereign Lord, 
They rose from off the grassy sward, 
.■ind soon retired to peaceful rest, 
With naught but love within each breast. 



412 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

"Their jiifled steeds rest on the hill. 
Their tinkling bell is hushed and still. 
And silence reigns througiiout the earth, 
Like that which reigned before its birth.' 

Mr. Balcli continues in this poem to note the rise in the morning of the 
pioneers ; their search for a home ; their success in finding one in a forest through 
which a stream courses its way, and the erection of their cabin-home. It is 
very strikingly portrayed, and .«peaks well for his native genius. Had he had 
the advantages of an education, he would take rank with manv writers widely 
known. As it is, we understand he intends publishing a volume of his 
poems, in which the remainder of the poem we quote will appear. Its length 
precludes further quotation in our pages. 

Just who was the first settler in Pleasant Grove — often called Pleasant 
Prairie — is now hard to determine. Mrs. Chowning states that her father. 
John Gordon, came to the Kickapoo settlement. in 1826, and the next year, she 
thinks in the spring, he moved down to Pleasant Grove, where she is now living. 
There he found an unfinished log cabin, built by an old Baptist preacher, oalled 
" Daddy " Barham. This cabin Mr. Gordon completed and used as a residence. 
Others, however, differ from this statement. Some assert that the first settle- 
ment was made in this township in 1827, by Isaac Fancher and Buck Houchin, 
near the head of Muddy Point Creek. This is the generally accepted view, and 
is given as true by Capt. Adams in his Centennial Address. Still, others 
claim that Jack Price came here prior to Fancher or Houchin, and that to him 
belongs the honor. From a pretty close investigation of the subject we are 
inclined to, the opinion given by Capt. Adams. The weight of testimony is in 
favor of Fancher and Houchin. Price must have followed them closely, how- 
ever, and may have been with them. 

It is likely that these persons are all that settled in this township that year. 
If they brought their families as Mr. Gordon did, there were four settlers and 
four pioneer homes in the township that fall. 

The next year, Mr. Joseph Glenn, then a young man, visited this settle- 
ment. After satisfying himself as to its desirableness, he determined to locate. 
He informed Mr. George Balch afterward, that when he came here, there were 
five families in this settlement, and that he thought no others existed in the 
township. He says Dorcas Tulley, who lived near the south line of the county 
where John T. Jones now resides, was among tlie number. He also mentions 
Mr. Fancher. He named all of them, but the names have escaped Mr. Balch's 
memory. Those that we have mentioned would make just this number, and are, 
probably, the families Mr. Glenn referred to. Mr. Glenn lived here until a 
short time since, when his death occurred. He was rather widely known, and 
was blessed with an excellent memory. It is to be regretted now that he did 
not write down for preservation his recollections of the days he first lived here, 
and the events passing at the time. He, like many another, did not realize 
their value, and thus much of the early history of this part of Illinois is lost. 



HISTORV OF COLES COUNTY. 413 

Mr. Glenn went to Lawrence County in the fall of 1829. He married Ellen 
Reynolds in 1830 or 1831, who was born in Illinois in 1808 or 1809, and is 
yet living. She is one of the oldest native-born citizens in this county. Mr. 
Glenn's farm was long known as the "Glenn Place," and was brought by its 
owner to a high state of cultivation. 

In the spring of 1820, (juite a number of settlers came. " Goose-Nest Prai- 
rie " was settled this spring by Rev. Daniel Barham ("' Daddy "' Barham, already 
referred to) and his sons John and Nathan, and Thomas Barker, who erected 
the first cabins there. If these were the first cabins built by the good minister, 
then the statement that he erected a cabin near the Gordon grave-yard in 1827, 
or before, is evidently an error by a year or two. As there is now no one left 
who lived through this time and is cognizant of it all, in all its details, it is 
extremely difficult to settle the point of the first settler. Rev. Barham was an 
efficient Baptist minister, and labored earnestly in his Master's calling, and 
may have been here as early as Mrs. Chowning thinks ; but, from the best 
testimony we are able to gather, it is two years later, /. e., in 1829. " The 
same spring that ' Daddy' Barham, his sons and Mr. Barker came," says Capt. 
Adams, " Michael Taylor and son, Elijah, John and Patrick Gordon and Dow 
Goodman located in the ' Goose Nest.' " This is further proof that Mrs. Chown- 
ing's father came in 1829, instead of 1827. 

The first settlement on Indian Creek was made this same year. At the 
head of this creek, was an old Indian camping-ground, evidencing use in many 
generations past. It was a convenient spot for pasturage and water, and, as 
such, was regarded favorably by the pioneers. It is in the north and northeast 
part of the township, and may be considered the third settlement in the town- 
ship. Its pioneers were Zeno Campbell, Gershom, William and Thomas Balch, 
who, as stated, located in 1829. 

This same year, the Muddy Point settlement was augmented by the arrival 
of Joseph Glenn. Daniel Edson, Daniel Beals and his two sons, Oliver and Jesse, 
and William Dryden and Alfred Balch, who came to view the country. The 
next year, William Gammill and his sons Andrew and Samuel, and sons-in-law, 
A. Balch and Isaac Odell, also Abner Johnston, whose son is now President of 
the First National Bank at Charleston, came to Indian Creek and Muddy Point 
settlements. The year before, Jesse Fuller and his family came from Virginia 
and bought the farm now known as the " Sell " place. Mr. Fuller remained 
here until his death. Mr. Theron E. Balch located with his family this season, 
also. Mr. Balch became a very prominent man in his time. He w-as the first 
school-teacher in the township, was a firm friend of religion and was one of the 
best men in the pioneer days of the community. He arrived with his family in 
October, and settled in the timber, near the "Goose-Nest Prairie." Here he 
built him a small pole cabin, and during this winter, it is thought, taught the 
pioneer school in the township, in a small pole cabin, in Muddy Point settlement, 
near where the Cumberland Presbvterian Church is now situated. He and his 



411 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

wife were strong Abolitionists, liberating their slaves in the South before they 
came, bringing soiae with them. Mr. Balch was one of the earliest adherents 
to that party, and is said to have been one of the first seven men to vote that 
ticket. Mrs. Balch is yet living in Wisconsin, eighty-six years of age, blind 
and deaf. She has been a most remarkable woman in her time. She lives with 
one of her daughters, and has with her one of her liberated woman slaves, who 
is almost as old as her mistress. 

The reader will observe that quite a number of persons located in the first 
two yeai's of the settlements here. As many of them belonged to the Cumber- 
land and Regular Presbyterian Churches, they united in August, 1830, and 
formed a Presbyterian Church under the care of the Old-School body — as it 
would be better known by that name — and began to hold services. As immigra- 
tion was rapid during the next three or four years, however, a Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church was organized, and those professing that creed drew off 
from the other Church as soon as this opportunity aflforded them a chance to 
join a church of their own choice. 

On the 19th of November following the organization of the Church at Indian 
Creek, the settlement in Pleasant Grove was joined by a colony of sixteen 
grown persons and eleven children from Bedford County, Tenn., about fifty 
miles south of the city of Nashville. They came, like their predecessors, in the 
old Virginia wagons, drawn by two and four horse teams, making the journey of 
400 miles in a few months. Now it is made in a day and a night. They 
camped out on the way, and while in Indiana, about fifteen miles south of Vin- 
cennes, they were obliged to stop and bury one of their number, a child, a son 
of Isaac and Mary Odell. A number of years ago, George D. Prentice, 
the veteran Louisville editor and poet, stood, he records, at the grave of a little 
child in Arkansas, buried from an emigrant wagon. He embalmed the incident 
in verse, which is so touching, and which applies to the burial of Mr. and Mrs. 
Odell's little child so well, that we reproduce a verse here : 

"Not in the church-yanl's hallowed ground. 
Where marble columns rise around. 
By willow or by cypress shade, 
Are thy poor little relicts laid. 
Thou sleejiest here, all, all alone. 
No other grave is near thine own. 
' Tis well, 'tis well; but oh. such fate 
Seems very, very desolate. 
■» * * * 

But yet it matters not, poor child, 
That thou must sleep in this lone wild : 
Each springtime, as it wanders past, 
Its buds and blooms will round thee cast ; 
The ihick-leaved boughs and moonbeams pale. 
Will er thee spread a solemn veil. 
And softest dews and showers will lave 
The blossoms on the infant's grave." 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 415 

The colony mentioned, coming in the fall of 1830, were headed by William 
Gammill (already noticed), who knew something of the country, and, with 
Alfred M. Balch, was one of the projectors of the move. In addition to these 
two, there were Mr. Balch's children — Ann Jane, who afterward became the 
wife of H. J. Reynolds, of Neoga ; Nanny Caroline, who died in March, 1853 ; 
Rhoda E., who died at thirteen years of age, and whose memory her brother 
Oeorge B. has touehingly preserved in verse. George B. was then very 
young, and has lived all his life in the township, noting all its changes, and has 
recorded many of them in poetry. Another family (and we shall name each 
family of this colony) was J. J. and Martha Adams, and their one child, W. E. 
Adams, then eleven days old. On his arrival, Mr. Adams, like the others, 
hastily erected a pole cabin, into which he moved. Before he could properly 
inclose it, the winter set in exceedingly cold, and with great difficulty could they 
preserve themselves and their child from freezing. The covers of the wagon 
were taken off, hung inside the cabin walls, and with one device and another, 
aided by the huge fire kept constantly burning in the great chimney, they man- 
aged to live through the winter. Many of their neighbors were no better off. 
The next year, he and all the colonists raised a very good crop, putting it in with 
the old-fashioned barshare plows, remodeled and repaii-ed their cabins, and by 
winter were prepared to stand the rigors of n Western winter. It will be recol- 
lected that the one before was made memorable by the "deep snow," and the 
great freshet in the spring consequent upon the melting of the snow. It is fully 
noticed elsewhere, and need not be repeated here. It was the same over all the 
country, only of a greater depth in the northern part of the State. As a portrait 
and full sketch of Col. Adams' life appear elsewhere in this volume, we will 
omit any further mention of his deeds here. They are all worthy a place in the 
annals of Coles Courjty, and when the Colonel died a few months since, he left 
behind him a record worthy of imitation by all. 

Isaac and Mary Odell, son-in-law and daughter of Mr. Gammill, were also 
of this company. It was their child that died in Indiana and was left sleep- 
ing on the roadside. Their next son, George W. Odell, was the first child born 
in Charleston, which town was laid out the next summer after the colony's arrival. 
Col. Adams and A. M. Balch cut logs and built some of the first houses in that 
aspiring town. One of these may yet be seen on a hill in the western part of 
town, just east of where the Ashmore mill was burned. Of all the members of 
that colony who were men and women when they came, Mrs. Odell — " Aunt 
Polly " — is the only survivor. 

The next family was Andrew and Jane Gammill and their three children, 
all of whom are living yet. One \s Mrs. Caroline Shoemaker, of La Fayette 
Township, another Mrs. Adaline Hendricks, now in Missouri, and the third 
Mrs. Lucinda Whetstone, of Pomona. Kan. Mark and Matilda Baker with 
their two children, Joseph and Matilda, are the next family mentioned. Both 
the children are now dead. The father died in about two years after coming. 



416 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

from malarial diseases. His wife afterward married M. Tyra Hays, and gave 
fame to Pleasant Grove by giving existence to three boys at one birth, all of 
whom are yet living. 

Andrew Clark and wife were also in this colony. They had no children 
when they came. Mr. Clark was afterward well known in Charleston in the 
hotels there, being one of the early landlords of the town. In this colony 
were two young men, Philip Odell and S. K. Gammill, who should be noticed 
here. The first named, Odell, died in Charleston, about 1835. In the early 
issues of newspapers there, his obituary was published, wherein some friend 
embalmed his memory in verse which we now recall, and which many of the 
old people will doubtless remember: 

"Could I the sacred Line conimanJ, 
Or inspiration guide my hand 
In numbers sweet but sad, I'd tell 
The virtues of our friend Odell." 

The other young man, S. K. Gammill, afterward became prominently known 
in the south part of the county. He married Elizabeth Dryden, who yet 
lives. Mr. Gammill died about twelve years ago, of cholera. 

The majority of the persons coming in this little colony, were members of 
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in their native State. They found no 
church of their own here, and the majority went into the Presbyterian Church 
at Indian Creek. They remained here, however, but a few years, when, being 
joined by more of their own profession, they formed a churcii at Muddy Point, 
and began services there. 

The winter following — 1830-31 — was, as has been observed, one of great 
severity. The intense cold, the deep snow, the scanty provisions and poor 
accommodations made the pioneer's life one of privation, and to those who had 
enjoyed the milder serenity of a more southern clime, it called for the stron- 
gest powers of fortitude and courage. The following spring, owing to the great 
snow, was very wet, and it was late before crops could be planted. The cabins 
were repaired, or new and better ones built, fields were cleared, and prepara- 
tions to found that home they all desired went steadily on. They went to the 
Wabash Point timber for mail, where George M. Hanson had the year before 
obtained a post office, and where quite a number of families, chiefly Meth- 
odists in reliiiion, were settled. Those of Pleasant Grove also came here to 
mill, for Slover's Mill was about the only one in this part of the country. It 
was during this summer, it is thought, that C. Campbell opened a blacksmith 
shop in the township. His shop was near the residence of /eno Campbell. 
He was a good workman, making excellent axes, Cary plows and various 
other implements, which could not have been obtained nearer than Paris, in 
Edgar County, or equally as distant places. It might be well to mention of 
/-eno Campbell that he was run for the Legislature on the Whig ticket, from 
this part of the county. He was an excellent man, but quiet an<l a little 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 417 

eccentric in his manner, refusing to go out and ''stump" the field. This was 
very likely the cause of his defeat, as he was well respected wherever known. 
He gave the ground on which the Presbyterian Church was erected in 1832, 
and with his wife lived to the good old age of more than fourscore years. It 
will be remembered they came to Pleasant Grove in 1829. 

The summer of 1831, brought with it a new influx of immigration. Those 
who stayed in this township were chiefly Presbyterian in religious views, while 
those who went to the Wabash Point settlement were largely Methodist. It 
was a kind of common understanding between the two settlements that persons 
coming to the new communities were to be mildly drawn to whichever settle- 
ment their religious sentiments favored. This they were always ready to do, 
as all desired to keep up the home practices and felt easier and more content 
among their own church people. Among the emigrants of this season may be 
mentioned John and Michael Whetstone. John settled the farm where the 
mineral springs were found, supposed to have been known to the aboriginal 
inhabitants for ages. We have already described these springs and forbear any 
further mention of them. Other settlers were Hezekiah and Mary Balch and 
a son Walter W., who is yet living in the neighborhood. They were from 
Alabama, from the same community that had before sent out Theron E. Balch 
and his wife. With Hezekiah and his family came Dr. Emmett Balch, who is 
now at Buckley, 111. John W. and Louisa Rodgers came with Dr. Balch from 
Alabama and settled with him here. Thomas and William Jefii'ies, two 
prominent men, with their families, came this same season from Kentucky. 

The old storehouse, in the possession of Mr. Azariah Jefl'ries, has a history in 
itself which is well worth narrating. It is thus told by Mr. Jeffries : '' The old 
storehouse is situated on Section 10, on land entered by Thomas Jeffries, the first 
Justice in this township. His children are Sallie Dieahl, James, John and 
Azariah. His house was built in September, 1852, for a store by T. A. Mar- 
shall and Milton True. Afterward, Mr. Marshall was elected to the State 
Senate, and afterward a colonel in the army. Mr. True was elected to the 
Legislature, and was a general in the army. Gideon Edwards, their clerk, was 
elected County Judge. When the two proprietors left the store, they sold to 
I. H. Johnston and Abram Highland, and the singular luck for ofiice-holding 
seemed to fall upon them. Mr. Johnston was elected Sheriff" and Mr. Highland 
County Treasurer. They sold the building to Clay Worthen and Jeiferson 
Doren. Mr. Worthen was twice elected Circuit Clerk. The mantle failed to 
fall on the shoulders of Mr. Doren, it seems, as it is not recorded he succeeded 
in being elected, though twice he ran for County Treasurer. While they owned 
the building. Dr. C. H. Brunk, a prominent physician in Shelby County, had 
his office with them. They sold to W. L. Funckhouser and John Hackley. Mr. 
F. is the largest land-owner in the township, and Mr. H. was Postmaster some 
time. These men sold to John W. Crawford, who was Postmaster, and who, 
with Dr. T. A. Kemper, a prominent physician, who had his office in the store- 



418 ■ HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

house, kept the building till he sold to the present owner, Azariah JeflVies. 
He has, as a consequence it seems, been elected School Trustee three years ; 
Director, nine years ; Commissioner, two years ; member of Legislature, two 
years ; a delegate to the Democratic Convention in Baltimore that nominated 
Horace Greeley ; been Chairman of the County Democratic Convention, Foreman 
of grand jury, on the petit jury, and a variety of other minor offices." 

Verily, the house has a history and a fatality unequaled in the West. 

Thomas and Hezekiah Balch were the first two Justices of the Peace elected 
in this part of the county. William Jeffries was the second County Sherifl", 
serving from 1834 to 1838. The first incumbent of this office was Ambrose 
Yocum, elected at the first election of the county in February, 1831. He died 
before the expiration of his term of office, and Mr. Jefl"ries was elected to 
the vacancy and to another term. The voting-place in February, 1881, was at 
the house of James Ashmore, situated where Parker Clark now lives, in 
La Fayette Township. Every one in the county entitled to a vote came here, 
and, as the county then included Douglas and Cumberland Counties, many of 
the voters came a considerable distance to discharge the duties of citizenship. 
When Pleasant Grove was made a precinct, the voting-place was fixed at Beni 
White's house, in the south part of the precinct. It afterward was made at 
Tully's still, now in Cumberland County. It then went to Thomas JeflVies, where 
it remained a few years, and was then taken to a log schoolhouse on Indian 
Point, near where the Presbyterian Church now is. The next move was not 
till after the organization of the township, when it was moved to the Balch 
Schoolhouse, where it stayed thirteen years. About two years ago, it was taken 
to the Nicholson Schoolhouse, where it will probably abide some time. The still 
house, mentioned as one of its abiding-places, might be more fully noticed. It 
was built by Dillard Tulley as a horse-mill in 1832, and was the first enterprise 
of the kind in this part of the county. It was afterward converted into a still, 
and as such was a pioneer. In those days every one drank whisky ; no 
wedding, no house-raising, no harvesting, no election, was carried on without 
plenty of that animating beverage being used. It was considered essential, 
and looked upon as one of the necessities of life. May be, to save carrying 
whisky to elections, was one reason why they were held here. Anyway, it was 
a place of popular resort, and was certain to call out all the voters ; that was 
one consideration. When Cumberland County was set off from Coles, there 
was left a strip of land a mile or two wide, on the north, which has since been 
attached. In this strip the still was located. A very common way to get the 
whisky was to take a bushel of corn and a cofiee-pot, and go to the still, 
exchange the corn for a gallon of whisky and bring it home in the cofliee-pot. 
That was before the era of jugs. Capt. .\dams says he was often sent to Tul- 
ley's still in that way when a boy. He tells a story on himself, which is worth 
preserving here, as illustrative of the customs in the "good old days." He 
says he was once sent with the bushel of corn and a new jug — they having just 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. , 419 

been introduced — for the customary gallon of whisky. He used a fresh cob for 
a cork in the jug, and, on his return, kept pulling out the cob and sucking the 
whisky it absorbed. By the time he reached home, he was, to use his own 
expression, "as full as a goose ! " His mother quickly noticed his condition. 
and, turning to her husband, remarked, emphatically : " There, Jefferson, 
that's the last time that boy goes to the still I "' And it was the last time. 
Good men, one after another, saw the evil tendency of the habit, and, one after 
another, banished it from their tables, firesides and harvest-fields. 

The same summer of 1831, Theron Balch established a Sunday school in 
his own cabin. He was aided by the first minister in this part of the county — 
Rev. Isaac Bennett, who came here under the care of the Philadelphia Presby- 
tery, to look after this field. He preached the first sermons heard in this part 
of Illinois, coming all the way from Philadelphia on horse-back. Further 
mention will be made of him in the chapter devoted to. churches in this town- 
ship. The summer this pioneer Sunday school was established, Julia Balch, a 
daughter of Theron, taught a day school in the little pole cabin where her father 
had wielded the birch the winter before. 

We have mentioned the fact of the settlers going to Slover's Mill and to 
George M. Hanson's post office, at the Wabash Point timber. This summer, 
however, they came to the county seat, just then established, for mail, and as 
Thomas Travis, one of the pioneers of this year, erected a horse-mill, they 
could get grinding nearer home. In addition to the one at the Wabash Point, 
they had gone, in some instances, to a mill where Greenup, in Cumberland 
County, is, on the Embarrass. The mill of Mr. Travis, and the blacksmith- 
shop of Mr. Campbell, brought commodities nearer their doors, and made many 
of the inconveniences heretofore experienced things of the past. Already a 
brighter day was coming. 

The season of 18-32 brought still more persons seeking homes in the West. 
Now they began to come in so rapidly that it is impossible to name all. We 
will, however, give the names of some, as far as we could gather them. It is 
not necessary to get all, nor to attempt to follow their fortunes. The story of 
one is the story of all. The biographical portion of this work shows more 
fully than we can hope to show the lives of many of the pioneers and their 
deeds in the land of their choice. Among those who came in 1832, we will 
mention James and Lyda Glenn, with two or three children. They came from 
Lawrence County, and both are long since dead. Another member of this 
familv was William, an older brother than either the others. He was a great 
hunter in his time, a veritable Daniel Boone, as it were. There were, also, Dan- 
iel and Rachel Edson, with one or two children. They settled the farm where 
the widow Landers now lives. Then there were Wells Needham and his wife, 
aiid others of that company. All the old settlers will doubtless remember John 
Harvey, an old teacher of the old school. He was a great fiddler, and. in 
that capacity, was in constant demand for the old-time dances. He was, withal, 



420 HISTORY OF COLE? COUNTY. 

a little superstitious, and believed in witches. Possibly he read the story of 
the witches so often he became imbued with their reality. His greatest delight 
was to hunt siiuirrels, and in this he became a veritable Nimrod. One of his 
oddities was a habit of pulling his nose when eating. It in some way seemed 
to assist him in swallowing his food. 

The I'eaders of these narratives will doubtless observe the absence of roads 
at this period in the history of the county or that of the townships. Until this 
year, there were no organized efforts in this direction. For several reasons, no 
roads, save bridle-paths, were to be seen in any place. The settlers were too 
much occupied in preparing their homes so they could live in comfort; in get- 
ting crops sown and gathered, so they might have something aside from wild 
meat and "johnny-cake" to eat, and in various enterprises, all necessary to 
their life here The roads were part of the economy of pioneer life that could 
be allowed to wait other developments. 

The season of 1832 is made memorable by the breaking-out of the Black 
Hawk war. The causes of this war, and its history in a general way. are fully 
given in the history of the Northwest, in this volume, and for this purpose we 
omit any mention save locally. Col. Adams, who seems to have always pos- 
sessed a combative spirit, and was always foremost in defending the frontiers, 
raised a portion of a company, with which he repaired to Shelbyville, where 
the full number was obtained, and where they were properly enlisted. Col. 
Adams' companions from Pleasant Grove were Obadiah Vincent and Harry 
Wilson, both of whom are yet living. They furnished their own horses, pro- 
visions and ammunition. From Shelbyville they went to Fort Dixon, on Rock 
River, thence to the Four Lakes, where Madison, Wis., now stauds, and fol- 
lowed the retreating Indians till the capture of Black Hawk and the termina- 
tion of the war. After their return home, they resumed their former avocations, 
and were never afterward called upon to assist in subduing the red men. 

The fall of that year is made memorable by the brilliant meteoric shower. 
As that event is, however, fully described in the history of Mattoon Township, 
and as it, like tlie " deep snow " and '• sudden freeze," occurred over all the 
country, one description applies to all. 

Following on down through the coming years we can note no events out o* 
the usual order of frontier life. Improvements were constantly going on ; new 
homes were being built : more emigrants came yearly, until the country in 
1827, when the first settlers came, was changed from a wilderness to one occu- 
pied by many busy, happy homes, full of enter[)rise, and all realizing the hopes 
entertained when they came. 

The financial crisis of 1840, incident on the failure of the grand system of 
internal improvements, eft'ected all the residents of the State. True, no lines 
of roads had been projected through Pleasant Grove, but the proposed construc- 
tion of two railroads in the county, the hopes excited by their building and 
their failure in common with all the rest, made times hard in every township in 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 421 

the county. The country was, however, full of resources, and in ten years' 
time had provided for the payment of its enormous indebtedness, and was again 
on the road to prosperity. The citizens of Pleasant Grove had partaken of this 
general improvement in various ways. These were exemplified in better habita- 
tions, now built of brick and frame. Schoolhouses were getting plenty, school 
terms were longer, and were more efficient. Other denominations, such as 
the Methodists and Cumberland Presbyterians, were preparing to build houses 
of worship, and more of the lu.xuries of life were apparent. The era of log 
cabins, and their accompanying discomforts, was passing away. 

A good story it told of two aspiring youthful Nimrods in this township, 
which is certainly worth a place in its annals. A certain farmer had a field of 
corn, where the grass had been allowed to grow after it was planted until a good 
growth had been gathered. Deer and all kinds of game abounded then in 
great numbers. The deer would come to this field at night, soon after the corn 
was cut, and eat the leaves from the stalks around the shocks. By this means 
they had destroyed a good deal of fodder. This the owner did not relish much 
but could see no way to help himself The two youthful hunters determined 
securing some of the deer, and secretly made arrangements therefor. Going 
into the field in question after dusk, they had not long to wait till they heard a 
rustling in the leaves, and waited with beating hearts the approach of the game. 
Soon a dark object came near enough and one of them raised his gun and fired. 
The object fell. "Now," said the other, " havn't we done it?" " We!" 
replied his comrade, contemptuously, " haven't /done it? " By this time they 
had reached the object, which gave a pitiable bleat, and they found— a calf. 
" Now," said the one who had fired the shot, " haven't we done it ? " " Yes," 
said the other, "haven't you done it? " To the boys' credit, it must be said, 
they skinned the calf, took the hide to the owner, and paiii him for the damage. 
They could have gone off and no one known who had killed the calf But for 
many a day they heard not the last of " that calf story I '" 

The young men learned to enjoy it with all the rest, and will, if they are liv 
ing and see this description, enjoy a laugh over their exploit. 

Of the remaining history of Pleasant Grove Township, little can be said. 
That of the churches and schools will appear in separate chapters, and will add 
to the value of these annals. On down through the Mexican war, in which 
Col. Adams and a few of her citizens took a part ; through the era of the 
rebuilding of railroads, in 1854, 1855 and 1856, to the time the Grayville and 
Mattoon Road was begun and until it was completed, we find no incidents of con- 
sequence. The G. ct M. Railroad brought a market near the township and affords 
an easy outlet for its products. There is, in the history of this township, the 
narrative of one family, who produced a man Avhose name and deeds will live 
while the world shall endure, which must not be omitted. We have reserved 
mention of them until this time, as we desired giving what could be gleaned 
concerning them in an unbroken account. We refer to the Lincoln family. 



422 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

Tliey were from Kentucky, and traced their lineage to an ancient family on 
Atlantic Coast. The parents of the President, who lived during their declining 
years in this township, are the only ones of the name who dwelt in this county 
or even, we believe, in this State. Thomas Lincoln was, all his life, one of 
those easy, honest, commonplace men, who take life as they find it, and, as a 
consequence, generally find it a life of poverty. He left Kentucky,, where he 
had in vain essayed to prosper, about the year 181(3, and located on the north 
shore of the Ohio River, in Spencer County, Ind., where he and his son, then a 
lad of about eight years old, kept a ferry. He remained here a few years, when 
he removed to a farm which he purchased, a few miles north of the county seat, in 
Spencer County. Here Abraham's mother died, and here, in a little country 
church-yard, unmarked by any stone, and shaded by a few straggling forest- 
trees, she is quietly sleeping. Two years after, his father married again. 
In 1830, the family removed from Spencer County to Macon County, 
111., settling; about ten miles southwest of Decatur. Here Abe Lin- 
coin, then just of age, aided the family in their start on the prairies, and here 
he split the rails, which, in after years, cut the important figure in politics 
almost, akin to the log cabin and hard cider in Harrison's day. The next 
spring, the young man went into life for himself, earning, it is said, his first 
money on a flatboat. The parents, left to themselves, made a poor living, and, 
a little over a year after, removed to the southwest part of Coles County, near 
the line between Paradise and Pleasant Grove, and essayed to begin life anew. 
They arrived here in the fall of 1831, having been in Macon County since 
the spring of 1830. They settled near Buck Grove, where they built a cabin, 
and remained a few months, probably till the following spring, when they 
moved to Goose-Nest Prairie, obtained some land, erected a cabin and settled 
down to life. Mr. Lincoln, though an excellent man, and a much-esteemed 
citizen, pos.sessed no faculty whatever of preserving his money, when he 
made any, hence he always remained poor. He was easily contented, had 
few wants, and those of a primitive nature. He was a foe to intemperance, 
strictly honest, and, supposing others the same, often suffered pecuniary 
losses. He left the active management of his affairs gradually to his 
stepson, John Johnston, and. erecting himself a cabin on a knoll, on the west- 
ern part of his land, passed his declining days in comparative ease, measured 
by his own estimate. He lived to see his son an excellent lawyer, and, wlien 
Abe was on his circuits, practicing law, he always came out to the old cabin to 
visit his parents. It was his custom, on such occasions, to load his buggy with 
provisions and take them with him. Thomas Lincoln lived on the farm until 
January (t, 1851, when he died, from an attack of fever. Abraham Lincoln 
had come to see him in response to his wish through a letter from Mr. A. H. Chap- 
man, and spent some time with him. He left word to send for him in case the 
disease assumed a malignant form. A severe attack soon followed liis depart- 
ure, proving fatal, and before Abe could be notified, his father was gone. In 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 423 

his early life, he joined the Baptists ; afterward, the " Presbyterian-Baptists," 
as they were called, and finally, owing to a disaffection in the church, the Chris- 
tians, in whose communion he died. He had learned to read and write, after 
his marriage ; but as far as any further education was concerned, he had none. 
He was noted for his peaceable qualities ; for settling, arbitrarily, disputes 
among his neighbors, and was, in that respect, universally respected. While in 
the old cabin, where he lived and died, we were shown the family record, copied 
by Mr. Hall from a leaf of the family Bible. It is well worth recording, and 
we give it entire. It reads : 

"Thomas Lincoln was born .Jan. 6, 1778, and was married June 6, 1806, 
to Nancy Hanks, who was born Feb. 5, 1784. 

" Sarah Lincoln, daughter of Thomas and Nancy Lincoln was born Feb. 
20, 1807. 

" Abraham Lincoln, son of Thomas and Nancy Lincoln, was born Feb. 
12, 1809. 

" Sarah Bush, first married to Daniel Johnston and afterward second wife 
of Thomas Lincoln, was born Dec. 13, 1788. 

" John D. Johnston, son of Daniel and Sarah Johnston, was born May 10, 
1810, and married to Mary Barker Oct. 13, 1834, who was born July 22, 
1816." 

When Mr. Lincoln died, the estate came into Mr. Johnston's hands, who, 
not then realizing the value attached to many of the family records, allowed 
them to be carelessly carried oft' by idle curiosity-hunters and become lost. Mr. 
Lincoln now lies buried in the little Gordon church-yard, no monument marking 
his grave save "a hillock and bowlder." Mr. George B. Balch has embalmed 
the spot in poetry, which we present our readers in preceding pages. After 
Abraham Lincoln was elected to the Presidency, he visited the grave of his 
father in company with A. H. Chapman and .John Hall. It was on a rather 
cold day in February, just preceding his inauguration, and after viewing the 
spot, the party returned to Farmington, where a sumptuous dinner had been 
prepared for the distinguished man. When Mr. Lincoln returned to Charleston, 
he asked one of the younger members of the Hanks family to find out the 
probable cost of a tombstone for his father's grave. During the conversation 
on the subject, Mr. Lincoln asked Mr. Chapman what he thought the expense 
would be. Mr. Chapman answered not less than $40, or more than $60, he 
thought. "Well," said the President, "see what it will cost and let me know 
at Washington, and I will send you an inscription I want put on." The war 
came on, and he could not attend to it. It has been erroneously supposed that 
he left money, and it was not appropriately used. This, Mr. Chapman says, is 
untrue, and that the only arrangeiiient made was the one already given. Fur- 
ther proof is given in a letter from Mrs. Lincoln after her husband's untimely 
death, wherein she refers to the thought often expressed by the President that 
as soon as his term of office expired, he would return here and see to the erec- 



424 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTV. 

tion of the monument. As his estate is ample now to put such a monument as 
will perpetuate the memory of Thomas Lincoln, when properly presented 
before the heirs, they will no doubt attend to it. Another rumor is 
prevalent in the community where Thomas Lincoln died. It is supposed 
that when the President visited the grave at the time mentioned, he cut the 
letters " T. L." on a walnut board and drove it into the ground at the head of 
the grave. This the writer of these pages endeavored to find, but could not. 
Mr. Chapman says he did not cut the letters and place the board at the grave 
as represented. He was with him all the time, and he says no such thing 
happened. The board in question was found by the writer to be tlie end of a 
fence rail, with the letters " T. E." cut in it, and standing at the foot of the 
grave. Rumors of all kinds are easily started ; but no one could be found who 
knew the board was there, or who knciv the money was left. "Nathan had told 
Nathan's son," and that was all there was about it. After the death of Thomas 
Lincoln, "Grandmother Lincoln," as she was always called, lived on the old 
farm or with her relatives in Charleston and Farmiugton. She was a kind, 
good woman, and died universally respected. She lies buried in the same 
church-yard with her husband, and like him has no stone to mark her resting- 
place. During her life, she was allowed the benefits of the farm, which after 
her death passed into the hands of her son, John Johnston. Mr. John Hall 
purchased it from him and now resides there. 

THE SCHOOLS. 

As has been noticed, Theron E. Balch taught a school in a small pole cabin 
in the winter of 1829—30. Some place it the next winter ; but the weight of 
opinion favors the time given. School was continued here with commendable 
regularity each winter, and sometimes in the summer. All were supported by 
subscription. Each patron subscribed as many pupils as he could send at §2.-50 
each per quarter — three months, and paid the tuition in various articles of bar- 
ter, coonskins, beeswax, hides, hone}', or whatever the dominie could exchange 
for board or clothing. As the different parts of the precinct settled, other 
schools were built, and as these settlements grew, better houses appeared. But 
little if any change occurred in the modes of instruction, length of term, and 
mode of paying the teacher until a revenue was derived from the State Treasury 
from the sale of school lands. Again, in 1844, 1845 and 184G, the revenue was 
farther augmented by the gradual adoption of free schools, i. e., supported by a 
general tax. These, in time, superseded the old subscription schools. Now, 
the law compels each district to conduct a school a certain number of months in 
the year to derive any benefit from the general fund. In addition to this, the 
Directors of each district may levy such a tax as tliey deem sufficient to carry 
on the school a month or two in excess of the time required by law. This 
gives in many districts, school from six to nine months in each year. The 
old log school with its puncheon floor, slab seats, paper window, long writing- 



i 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 425 

desk, broad, open fire-place, cross teacher, Smiley's Arithmetic, American 
Speller, and other primitive appliances, is now a thing of the past. Since 
1860, better houses and higher grades of instruction are required, and a con- 
sequent advantage and advancement the result. Frame houses began to appear 
in 1858, 1859 and 1860 ; and, in 1853, a brick one arose on the site of Farra- 
ington. It was, however, intended as a seminary, but after serving a while in 
that capacity, became a common schoolhouse, and finally a store. 

CHURCHES. 

Incidental mention has been made throughout the preceding pages of churches 
and schools in Pleasant Grove Township, reserving a more extended notice of 
these subjects in a separate chapter. The first church in this part of the 
county was built on the Little Indian Creek in 1832. Two years before, on 
August 30, 1830, the Presbyterian Church of Pleasant Prairie, so say the rec- 
ords, was organized by the Rev. B. F. Spillman. connected with, and under 
the care of, the General Assembly'. The organization was effected with four- 
teen members. They were Thomas Mayes, Agnes Mayes, Theron Balch. 
Ann Boyd, Thomas MsCracken, Nancy McCracken, James Ashmore, Cassandra 
Ashmore, Rachel Ashmore, Margaret Ashmore, William Wayne. Mary Wayne, 
James Logan and Elizabeth Logan. Of these persons none are now living. 
They met for organization at the house of Theron Balch, it is supposed, oi% if 
the pole cabin schoolhouse was erected, there. Whether Mr. Spillman remained 
long preaching here, is not known. Probably not, as it is thought he was 
over this part of Illinois looking after scattering members of the Presbyterian 
congregations, and organizing them into churches. Hence, he would be here 
but a little. Their earliest minister was Rev. Isaac Bennett, a rather eccentric 
character, who, it will be observed, is noticed elsewhere in this work. He was 
here some three or four years. This church was the first Presbyterian Church 
established in the county, and was, for a number of years, the only place of 
worship in the township. The Church records show no additions until the 
next summer. On July 24, 1831, fourteen more members are received, eleven 
on certificate, and three on profession. These are the members of the colony 
whose history is given on previous pages. They came the fall after the organi- 
zation of the Church, but. being principally members of the Cumberland Presby- 
terian Church, waited a while hoping to found a church of their own. As the 
settlement was young, however, they gave up such plans for awhile, and joined 
with the Indian Point Church. 

The next summer — 1832 — on June 1, the members met and agreed to 
donate so many days of work each, in building a church. It was to be of 
logs. 24x30 feet in size. The original list of 'subscriptions show from two 
to twelve days' labor subscribed by each one, while Mr. Barnett subscribed 
twenty-six spikes, and William Wayne thirty ^bushels of lime. In all, eighty 
days were subscribed, and, that fall, the church was raised and covered. It 



426 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

could be used only in the warm weather, as no floor or windows were yet made. 
The flooring was afterward sawn out by a whip-saw, an exceedingly long and 
tiresome process, while the siding and roof were made from slabs split out with 
a maul and wedges, and dressed with a frow. The church, made in this man- 
ner, was considei'ed quite an afl^air, for the times, and, considering the appli- 
ances at hand, and the labor necessary to build a frame house in that manner, 
it is certainly creditable. It had two doors in front, between which the pulpit 
was placed. The latter was one of those high, old-fashioned, box-like affairs, 
behind which the minister was pretty efi'ectually screened. It is said that, 
when Mr. Bennett sat down in it, the top of his head only was visible to the 
congregation. The seats in this church were made by placing long slabs on 
trestles. They were without backs, and placed rather closely together. If 
any one became sleepy then, as now, and wanted to lean his head forward on the 
seat in front, he had a poor chance, surely. May be they did not get sleepy 
then, as they do now ; ihe room was always well ventilated, and the sermon 
more of a rarity than now. The church remained in its unfinished condition 
about two years. The one who subscribed the lime failed to produce it, and, 
as Rev. John McDonald, now the Pastor, possessed energy in worldly matters, 
as well as in spiritual, he, with the aid of Mr. Nicholson, yet living in the 
neighborhood, prepared to remedy the deficiency, and make the house comfort- 
able in cold as well as in warm weather. Rev. McDonald found a lime-rock in 
the Indian Creek, and it was determined to use it to plaster the church. Logs 
were hauled by the members and piled around and on it, and, being set on 
fire, burned it to a pulverized condition. By the aid of sand, also found here, 
Mr. McDonald and his parishioners made an excellent plaster, and, having put 
split lath on the inner side of the house, the worthy minister plastered the 
church with his own hands. As the weather was cold at the time, he took up 
the floor of the church, made a bed of sand in the center of the inclosure, and 
therein kept a great fire burning until the plastering was thoroughly dried. 

In 1834, the congregation employed Rev. James H. Shields, of Indiana, one- 
half his time. He, however, sent them word, afterward, that he could not 
attend. The congregation was growing very well at this date, the main losses 
being those who left to unite with other churches of their own particular creed, 
which they could not find when they came first to the country. Rev. Bennett 
remained here, at different times, several years. He had been in the county 
when it was first settled ; had made three trips on horse-back between Philadel- 
phia and his charges in the West, and had seen the infant congregations expand 
into self-supporting charges. His old, faithful horse passed its declining days 
in this part of the State, dying at last in Lawrence County, where, out of 
respect to its master and its own good service, it was given a decent interment 
by some young men. 

In examining old records of the Church, and, indeed, of all churches of 
that date, we find many phases of human life exemplified. Then the church 



HISTORY OF COLES COUIITY. 427 

assumed more of the functions of a court than now, and tried persons who com- 
mitted acts unworthy their profession. The records of Indian Point Church 
show that a certain member was found "guilty of making cheese on the Sab- 
bath Day," and was suspended. Others are, at times, " admonished." The 
church grew all the while, and, where any took offense at such proceedings, 
they were at liberty to withdraw. 

This part of the West was too remote in the wilderness to note the trans- 
actions of important events when they transpired. It took several weeks for 
the news to reach the inland settlement of Illinois at that day. Hence, when 
the dismemberment of the great Presbyterian Church occurred, we find no note 
is taken of it in Pleasant Prairie until a year or two after it had occurred. On 
August 9, ISSy, the members of the Pleasant Prairie Church met to consider 
that question, and after a discussion and explanation of the division, a ballot 
was taken to decide to which of the two great bodies — technically called Old and 
New School — they should annex themselves. They seemed to be pretty evenly 
divided, as a majority of 3 votes was cast to remain with the " Old School." 
The dissenters to this view numbered thirty-one, and drawing oft" formed a new 
Church, and from this date down to the re-union in 1871, we find two congrega- 
tions. They were so amicably situated that by an outsider, however, the differ- 
ence could not have been detected. Both congregations used the same house, 
though each employed their own Pastor and managed their own affairs. The 
old Church was left with twenty-five members, whose first minister was Rev. 
John McDonald, who had come from Ohio to the north part of the State, and 
who had attended the first meeting of a Presbyterian Presbytery in Illinois, at 
the house of Rev. Stephen Bliss, in Wabash County. When he came to Pleas- 
ant Prairie, he lived in a split-log or pole cabin, near the church, that had here- 
tofore been used for a schoolhouse. He lived in this until he could erect a house 
for himself and his family, into which they moved when it was completed. He 
died about twelve years ago. The family still reside on the old homestead. 
He remained in charge of the Church until his health failed, even then preach- 
ing occasionally. He was succeeded by the Rev. Joseph Adams, who came from 
Philadelphia, and remained about two years. He, in turn, by Rev. R. A. 
Mitchell, who lived in Charleston ; he, by Rev. Elliott ; he, by James W. Alli- 
son : he, by A. Kemper, of Mattoon ; he, by Nathaniel Williams ; he, by Ellis 
Howell, under whose ministry the re-union occurred ; he, by Robert Ash ; he, 
by George W. Davis, and he, by the present Pastor, R. G. Ross. 

The New-School branch first employed Rev. John C. Campbell. His suc- 
cessors were C. H. Palmer, Joseph Wilson, who remained here a number of 
years, and E. Kingsbury. When the congregation re-united with the other and 
original one, they came under the care of the minister there. 

The old church, built by contribution of labor, spikes and lime, and plastered 
by Rev. McDonald, remained in use until 1852, when the Old-School branch 
built the house standing just back of the present church. This, like its prede- 



428 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

cesser, was used by both congregations until 1857. when the New-School branch 
built a neat frame church in the village of Farmington. They were assisted in 
the effort by the Methodists in that vicinity, who were allowed to use the house 
in consequence. This was done till 1866, when they completed their own 
church. The Old-School congregation used the church built in 1852 till 1866, 
when, becoming too small and worn out, it was replaced by the present one : 
dedicated when Rev. Howell was Pastor. 

On the 14th of October, 1871, the Mattoon Presbytery united the two 
Churches as one congregation again, employing one minister, still keeping both 
houses of worship, holding services alternately in each. 

As has been incidentally mentioned, the Cumberland Presbyterians and the 
Methodists began organizing Churches about the. year 1850 or 1852 — possibly, 
earlier. The strongest Methodist community was in Mattoon Township, then 
Paradise Precinct, at the head of the Wabash Point timber. Its history will 
be found in the history of that settlement, and there, it will be observed, it 
antedates the Indian Creek Presbyterian Church a year or two in point of 
organization. The denomination began holding meetings in Pleasant Prairie 
early in the life of that settlement. They united with the Cumberland Pres- 
byterians in the west side of the township in erecting a house of worship, about 
1852 or 1853, and with them occupied it, alternately, until 1866, the centen- 
nial year of American Methodism, when they completed their present house of 
worship, situated near the southwestern part of the township. It was dedicated 
April 29, 1866, when Rev. J. H. Aldrich was Pastor. The dedicatory sermon 
was preached by Rev. Dr. Phillips. The Church is known as the Muddy Point 
M. E. Church, from its location in the vicinity of that stream, and can trace 
its origin to the time the original Methodist Church at Wabash Point divided 
into three congregations, to suit the members, who were too widely scattered to 
attend there, and organized churches in their own neighborhoods. Almost 
cotemporary with the organization of the Muddy Point Church, one was formed 
in the "Goose-Nest Prairie." They, like all other infantile congregations, 
held meetings at first in each other's cabin.s. When the brick schoolhouse was 
built in Farmington, in 1853, they, with the Presbyterians, occupied that. 
Then, when this latter denomination built their church in the village, the 
Methodists aided them, and were, in consequence, allowed the use of their 
house of worship. This arrangement was continued until the}' built their own 
church, in 1866. They have a good congregation at present. 

The Cumberland Presbyterians organized their first Church at Muddy Point 
in 1833. It is known as the (Jood Prospect Church, and was organized by 
Rev. Isaac Hill. They met in dwellings and schoolhouses, at first, continuing 
the practice till 1864, when they completed their present house of worship. 
For several years prior to this time, they occupied a large schoolhouse, which 
answered every purpose. Their principal pastors have been Revs. Isaac Hill, 
Daniel Campbell, James Ashmore and J. W. Woods. The latter is now living 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 429 

in Mattoon. The membership is now about eighty ; the Sunday school of 
about the same number. 

The second church of this denomination is the outgrowth of a great revival, 
■occurring in 1837. Those who are now living and attended that revival will, 
doubtless, remember the powerful sermon preached by Rev. Mitchell, of Charles- 
ton, then expecting to go to China as a missionary. As the result of this 
revival, a large accession accrued to the Church ; and, in 1843, the second con- 
gregation, known as Pleasant Grove Church, was organized by Rev. J. W. 
Woods. Their first meetings were held in the houses of William Gamraill (who 
will be remembered as one of the early members in the Indian Point Presbyte- 
rian Church) and John Whetstone, and in a schoolhouse in the neighborhood. 
The principal members were those named and the families of Alfred Alexander, 
Michael Whetstone and C. J. Dexter. Their pastors have been Revs. Woods. 
Isaac Hill, James Ashmore and others. The membership is now about seventy, 
and the attendance at Sunday school about the same. Their house of worship 
was erected in 1856, and was used, occasionally, by the Methodists, who assisted 
in its erection. These two Churches and the Methodist Church are all in this 
part of the township. They evince a people religious in feeling. 

FARMINGTON. 

This village, the only one in the township, is situated on Section 16. It 
was laid out April 2.5, 1852, by Thomas Lytle, a surveyor, for John J. Adams, 
■owner of the land on which it is situated. A post office had existed for some 
time before this in this community, known as Campbell Post Office, as it was 
started by Frank Campbell, the first Postmaster here. The office at Farming- 
ton is yet known" by that name. The village received its name from Mrs. 
Adams, who named it for Farmington, Tenn. There being one post office of 
that name in the State, when the village started, the Post Office Department 
refused to change the office name to correspond, hence it is yet known as Camp- 
bell's Post Office. Soon after the village was platted, Leander Burlingame 
tuilt a house and store and opened a stock of goods. About the same time. 
Dr. Halbrooks and Sam.ueLA. ^eel erected a store and began business. Which 
of these two stores was first is hard to determine. It is probable they were 
erected at thesame time and opened within a few days of each other. The post office 
was soon after moved into the village, a blacksmith named (f. F. Biddle came, 
and the life of the village assumed tangibility. The next year the residents 
in this community, desirous of better educational advantages, erected a very 
good and substantial brick schoolhouse, intending it for seminary purposes. It 
was named Farmington Seminary, and, for a time, a very creditable school was 
maintained here. It also served a^s a place of public worship for the Meth- 
odists, who were numerous in this part of the township. It answered the 
double purpose of school and church ur\til 1857, when the Pre-sbyterians erected, 
-with the aid of the Methodists, a neat frame house of worship in the western 



430 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

part of town, and public religious services were thereafter held there. The 
advent of the free schools brought a better system of education, and the Seminary 
was abandoned, the building turned over to the school autliorities of the town- 
ship, and common school held therein. After the village grew so that the 
building became too small, it was sold, changed into a store, and the present 
two-roomed house erected. 

The foregoing narrative shows the earliest attempts to found a church in the 
village : As early as 1835, the Methodist ministers were in this part of the 
county, organizing classes and laying the foundations for churches. Rev. 
McKee was one of the earliest remembered. Rev. Ryan, another early circuit- 
rider, organized a class of ten or twelve members in Goose-Nest Prairie, at 
George Rogers' house, not long after the settlement was made. They used 
each other's cabins at first, then the log schoolhouses, next the brick seminary, 
then the Presbyterian Church they assisted in building, which they occupied 
until they completed their own house of worship in 1866. It is a comfortable, 
neat frame church and accommodates a good congregation. The history of 
the Presbyterian Church in the village need not be repeated here, as it is 
sufficiently given in the sketch of the churches in the township history. The 
Pastor of both charges — practically one congregation — resides in the village, 
preaching alternately in each church. 

The village is yet small, containing, perhaps, one hundred inhabitants. The 
flouring-mill of Adams ct Freeman, erected in 1866, by Harris & Crow, does a 
very fair business. It has only a local trade ; but it is constant and self-sup- 
porting. They can readily find a market for all they can grind above the wants 
of their customers. 

The post ofl!ice. Lama, is kept by Mr. George B. Balch, who aided the rail- 
road in this section, and who makes a stopping-place at his house for the trains. 
It is a very convenient place for the neighborhood, and should be maintained, 
and a depot erected. Another stopping-place is made a few miles north, on the 
farm of Mr. Miller, from whom the place takes its name. No depot, office or 
platform is made here, however. 

We have now given in outline the history of Pleasant Grove Township. Its 
details would fill a volume. There would, however, be much repetition, which we 
have found difficult to avoid, and which we trust wo have accomplished. The biog- 
raphies of many of her citizens given elsewliore in these pages show much of the 
history which this volume perpetuates, and in away it only can be perpetuated. 
Had a similar work been published in the counties wherein we were raised, who 
would not prize it ' 

HUTTON TOWNSHIP. 

Tiie township of Hutton forms an important part of the history of Coles 
County, inasmuch as the first settlement within its present limits by civilized 
white men was made in this township more than half a century ago. How 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 431 

many pages have been added to the history of the world in that period of time I 
Empires, kingdoms, nations and princijialities have been blotted out, and 
the remembrance of their glory has almost faded from the minds of men as the 
" waves of dark oblivion's sea sweep o'er them," scarcely leaving a trace to tell 
how, or when, or where they sunk. "Thrones tottering have fallen; crowns 
crumbling have disappeared;" ancient palaces, in whose spacious halls the 
" mightiest monarchs proudly trod,'' have been, as it were, swept from the very 
face of the earth. The storm of war has raged through our own fair land, con- 
vulsing the Republic from its " center to its circumference," and threatening 
for a time its total destruction. The tempest roared and howled with terrific 
force, then passed by, and the olive branch of peace bloomed over the nation 
fairer than ever. These are but a few of the mighty events that have transpired 
in the half-century gone by since the first settlement was made here by white 
people. 

Hutton Township lies in the southeast part of Coles County, and is bounded 
on the south and east by Cumberland and Clark Counties, on the north by Ash- 
more Township, and on the west by the Embarrass River. It is well drained by the 
latter stream, and the small water-courses that meander through it. At the time 
of the early settlement of Hutton, it contained much fine timber-land, though 
about half of the town, perhaps, is prairie. It is considerably above the size of 
a Congressional township, embracing within its limits some fifty-four sections of 
land. No railroads intersect it, but the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad 
passes in a few miles of its north line, and theAandalia line a little south of it, 
so that its railroad facilities are not at all restricted. 

SETTLEMENT. 

As we stated above, the first settlement in the county was made in Hutton 
Township. In 1824, John Parker and his sons, Benjamin, Daniel, Silas and 
James Parker, and Samuel Kellogg and his wife, made a settlement here, and 
composed this first colony of pioneers in Hutton Township. But one of the 
little band of pilgrims is now alive — the widow of Samuel Kellogg, who lives at 
present in the city of Charleston. They settled on the Embarrass River, just 
opposite wherethe Blakeman Mills now stand. Some of the Parkers afterward 
settled in Charleston Township, where they are noticed among the early settlers 
of that section. Most of them moved to Texas years ago, as elsewhere men- 
tioned, and where two or three members of the family suffered severely by the 
Indians, two of them, at least, losing their lives.* A daughter of James Par- 
ker was taken prisoner by the savages, and held for some time in captivity, sub- 
jected to all kinds of cruelty. She was married to a man named Plummer, who 
was killed at the fort where the Parkers were living at the time she was capt- 
ured. During her captivity among the Indians, she gave birth to a child, 
which the savages killed before her eyes. Her father had a long search for lier, 

*Since the above was written, we have been inrormed by Mr. Hutton that John Parker, the old gentleman, and two 
0*" his 9ona, were killed b.v the Indians in Texas. \ mention of the sons being killed is made in the genaral county 
history. 



432 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

visiting many of the tribes then in Texas before he found lier, but finally did 
find her,*and succeeded in obtaining her release. John Parker (High Johnny, 
his friends called him) was a Baptist preacher, and one of the first in Coles 
County. He was of the old Predestinaiian belief, and many humorous anec- 
dotes are related at the old gentleman's expense. One or two of his sons were 
also preachers ; in fact, the Parkers seem to have been a family of preachers, 
and proclaimed the Word freely to perishing sinners. They ignored the doc- 
trine, although of divine origin, that " the laborer is worthy of his hire," and 
would accept no pay for the promulgation of the Gospel, but zealously toiled in 
the cause of the Master, without money and without price. Taken all in all, 
tliey were a remarkable family, and rather above the mediocre in intellect and 
ability. Daniel Parker, one of the sons, was a preacher, and perhaps the most 
intelligent one of the name. He represented Crawford County (before their 
removal to this county) in the Legislature a term or two. and was an able repre- 
sentative as well as preacher. It is told of him, that, although a minister of 
the Gospel, he would work all the week on his farm, and then take his gun on 
Sunday, and kill deer enough to furnish his family in meat until the next Sun- 
daj*. When some of the stricter people spoke to him in regard to such a ques- 
tionable way of serving the Lord, he told them if he ever got able to live with- 
out having to work so hard, and to have time to kill his meat in the week, he 
would cheerfully do it, but then it was a case of the boy and the woodcliuck. 
•he had to. ' Daniel Parker is mentioned, in another page, as preacliing the 
first sermon in Hutton Township, and Benjamin Parker as building the first 
mill. 

Another family of Parkers, and not related to those above mentioned, set- 
tled in this township in the winter of 1825-26, on what is called Parker 
Prairie, and from them the prairie received its name. George Parker and his 
sons, Samuel, Daniel, Jeptha and William Parker composed this settlement. 
They were originally from Butler County, Ohio, and removed to Crawford 
County, 111., in 1817, locating south of Palestine, where they remained until 
their settlement in this town, on Parker Prairie. Samuel Parker went back to 
Crawford County and died there, some of them died here, and Daniel and 
Jeptha are still living in the township, prominent farmers. George Parker is 
said to have entered the first land in Coles County. 

John Hutton, one of the esteemed citizens of this township, has, probably, 
been acquainted with Coles County longer than any man now living. There 
are older residents of the county than he, but none who knew it so early. He 
assisted the Parkers in moving to this township, in 1824, and spent several 
days in bee-hunting in the heavy-timbered sections. Says that he was on the 
ground where Charleston now stands during that trip, and that there is not 
another man living that can truthfully make the same statement — a fixct that is. 
perhaps, undisputed. While here at that time, he heard the first sermon 
preached in the present territory of Coles County. It was in a small log 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 433 

cabin, and though every man, woman and child in the county were present, the 
house, he says, was by no means crowded. Daniel Parker preached the 
sermon, and, at its close, old " Father High Johnny " made the quaint remark 
quoted in another page : "' Brethren, we have wandered far into the wilderness, 
but even here death will find us." 

When Mr. Hutton started back home (he then lived in Crawford County), 
he took a straight course through the forests and across the prairies to save dis- 
tance, as around the trail was much further. He had an ox-team, with which 
he had hauled a load of " plunder ' for the Parkers to their new home, and trav- 
eled very slowly ; consequently, was several days making the trip. When night 
came, he would tie up his cattle, and "camp till morning." One night, a 
panther "squalled and screamed" around his lonely camp for an hour or two, 
frightening his oxen considerably, and himself somewhat ; but, as he kept up a 
bright fire, it finally retired without making an attack. Notwithstanding he 
traveled through the unbroken country, where no trail had been marked, he 
made the trip in safety, and without the least bewilderment. So well-skilled 
were the pioneers in woodcraft, that they read signs in the forest like a printed 
book, and the very bark of the trees was to them the points of the compass. 

Mr. Hutton is a native of Montgomery County, Ky., and came to Illinois, 
with his parents, when quite young, and settled in Crawford County, in 1816, 
where he remained until 1834, when he removed to Hutton Township, where 
he has since lived. His mother came here with him, his father having died in 
Crawford County. He was a soldier in the Black Hawk war, from the latter- 
named county, and went out in the company commanded by Capt. Alexander 
Huston, long a resident of Palestine. He was one of the few " pale-faces " 
who crossed the Mississippi after the Indians in that memorable campaign. He 
has always been a prominent and enterprising man in his neighborhood ; was 
one of the Commissioners to lay off the county into townships, and was the 
first Supervisor of Hutton Township, an oflBce beheld three terms in succession, 
and from him the town received its name. He was a great fox-hunter, in his 
day, and many are the stories he -can tell of his exciting chases after Reynard. 
He kept a pack of hounds for the purpose, and a fox-chase was his most enjoy- 
able pastime. Though in his seventy-ninth year, Mr. Hutton has an excellent 
memory, and is enjoying fine health for his advanceii age. To his vivid recol- 
lection we are indebted for many particulars that, but for him, would ere now 
iiave been lost. 

Kentucky contributed the following early .settlers to Hutton Township: 
The Conleys, the Rennelses, Richard 0. Wells, the Beavers, the Branden- 
burgs, George and John J. Cottingham, the Goodmans, the Evingers, W^illiam 
Stivers, and perhaps others. The Conleys emigrated to Indiana, and lived 
some time in Lawrence County before coming to Illinois. Joel Conley, the 
father of all the Conleys, was a North Carolinian, but removed to Kentucky, 
and from thence to Indiana, and in 1832, to this township. He died on the 



43-t HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

farm where his son, Edmontl Conley, now lives. His son. Jack Conley, went to 
Te.xas, and William to California, where they died. Edmond, Elijah and 
Washington Conley still live in Hutton Township, and are among the prosper- 
ous and energetic men of the community. The Rennelses came from Madison 
County, and located in what is known as the Rennels Settlement, a mile or 
two from the little village of Salisbury. James Rennels was the first one to 
settle in the township, locating on Section 32, in 1832, where he has ever 
since resided. John Rennels, his father, came to the township in 1837, and 
settled near by, where he died in 1866, at the ripe old age of eighty-five years. 
He was a native of the State of Delaware, and emigrated to Kentucky at an 
early day, when the Indians were extremely hostile, and committing all sorts 
of depredations in the "dark and bloody ground." William Rennels, another 
son, moved here at the same time his father came, and settled on the place 
where he still lives. The Rennels family is a large one, and embraces some of 
the thrifty farmers of the country. Richard 0. Wells was from Bourbon 
County, and settled in Hutton Township in 1838. He remained here but a 
few years, when he returned to Kentucky, and resided there until 1853, and 
moved back to this township and settled where he now lives. F. M. Wells, a 
son of his, enlisted in Company H, Twenty-first Illinois Volunteers, and died 
in 1865, on his way home from the war. It is a melancholy reflection. He 
had served through the war and the banner of peace again waved over the 
country, but he died before reaching home, where loved ones anxiously awaited 
his coming. The Beavers are natives of the Old Dominion, but emigrated to 
Kentucky when it was in a wild state, and the hunting-grounds of hostile 
Indians. William Beaver came to Illinois in 1827, and settled in the Rich 
Woods, in the present bounds of Clark County, where he remained until 1830, 
when he came to this township and entered the land upon which he now lives. 
For forty-nine years he has been living on the same farm — a lifetime of itself. 
When he came to this State, the land was owned by the Kickapoo Indians, 
■who were thick in the neighborhood. He remembers when cutting some "bee 
trees " at Long Point, of seeing the runners sent out by Black Hawk to sum- 
mon the Indians to the grand powwow, of which the Black Hawk or Sac 
war was the final result. Mr. Beaver is over eighty years old, is remarkably 
active, and seemingly good for another decade. Mathias Beaver came from 
Meade County, and settled in Hutton in 1833, where he still resides, an enter- 
prising farmer. Albert Beaver was a soldier in the Fifty-fourth Illinois Yo\- 
unteers in the late war, but was discharged on account of ill-health. Solomon 
Brandenburg, the progenitor of the Brandenburg family, came to this townshiji 
in 1829, and settled on Section 14, where he died in 1861. He first settled at 
White Oak Point, on Grand Prairie, but did not remain there long until he 
removed to Hutton, as above noted. Among the worthy farmers and citizens 
of the town, are his sons, James, William, Solomon, Calvin and Charles Bran- 
denburg. George Cottingham was originally from Maryland, but A\:nt to 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 435 

Kentucky in the early times. In 1836, he, with his family, removed to Illi- 
nois and settled in this neighborhood, where he resided until 1859, when he 
came to Charleston to live with his son. He was a soldier of the Revolution- 
ary war, and of the war of 1812. In the former he served under den. Wash- 
ington, and professed to have been well acquainted with the Father of his 
country, and for years made Gen. Washington's shoes and boots. He had a 
strong desire to live to vote for Stephen A. Douglas, for President in 1860, 
and claimed to have voted for every President from Washington down. What 
a history. How many changes he had seen in the country he had fought to 
free it from British oppression. From the thirteen feeble colonies, he had seen 
it e.xpand into nearly three times that number, of great and prosperous States. 
He died soon after the Presidential election of 1860, at the extreme 
age of one hundred years. John J. Cottingham, his son, came to 
Hutton Township in 1836, having first settled in Clark County, where 
he remained but a short time. He removed to the city of Charleston, 
in 1859, and died there in 1863. There are still many younger members 
of the family living in the township, and Mrs. Hutton, John Hutton's 
wife, is a daughter of the elder Cottingham, mentioned above. The Goodman 
family came from Putnam County, Ind., though originally they were from 
Kentucky. William Goodman died on the way here, and John and Thomas 
Goodman settled in tlie town very early. John Goodman is dead, but Thomas 
is still living. He is a minister and lives in Charleston. The Evingers were 
among the early settlers here, and came from the vicinity of Louisville. Of 
those who were prominent men in the township, were Daniel, Jacob, Henry 
and Frederick Evinger. There is a large family of them, and they are of the 
Very best men in the neighborhood. William Stivers came here about 1829-30. 
He had " run ofi" from Kentucky and left his woman," is the way old friend 
Beaver put it, and she followed him to this country and took charge of him 
" whether or no." He was a sleymaker (we do not mean a vehicle on runners, 
but an "implement " used by our mothers and grandmothers for weaving cloth) 
and used to manufacture these useful articles, when the pioneer ladies were 
accustomed to make the cloth wherewith their families were clothed. Forty 
or fifty years ago, the people in this country (male and female) wore few "store 
clothes," but were thankful to have sufficient, even of homespun, to keep them 
warm. As pertinent to the subject, and in illustration of the times of which 
we write, we give space to a little poem from the bard of Pleasant Grove: 

" I have been charmed by the sweet-sounding lute, 
Oft been entranced by the organ and flute ; 
These things I heard, but the music I feel 
Is the far ofl' roar of my mother's wheel. 
As with midnight lamp by its side she stood, 
Still spinning the yarn to clothe her dear brood. 

•'Its echoes still float up through the long years. 
To solace my heart and sweeten my tears; 



436 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

And as down life's stream ray little bark sails. 
Sweet sounds may often be borne on the gales ; 
But sweeter by far, on my soul will steal, 
My childhood's music — my dear mother's wheel." 

There are many living in Coles County who will recognize the truth of 
these simple lines, and doubtless when they read them, memory will roll back 
over the years that have past, to kindred scenes in their own childhood homes. 

John Ashby was a native of North Carolina, but had lived some time in 
Tennessee before emigrating to Illinois. When he came to this State, he set- 
tled in Crawford County, near Palestine, where he remained a few years, and 
then came to this township about 1828-20. He was a blacksmith, the first of 
that useful trade in the town ; he died here many years ago. Another old 
North Carolinian is Jeremiah Cooper. He came to the township in 1837, and 
is the oldest man now in it, and perhaps the oldest in the county, being in his 
ninety-fifth year. Nicholas Lemming is eighty-eight years old. He is a native 
of Pennsylvania, and in early days emigrated to Ohio, then to Indiana, and 
from thence to Crawford County, 111., where he remained a short time, and, in 
1835, removed to Hutton Township, where be still lives, quite an active man of 
his age. 

Griffin Tipsoward was an early settler in this township, but after a residence 
of a few years, moved to the neighborhood of Kaskaskia. He was an old sol- 
dier of the Revolutionary war, and made application for a pension under a law 
of Congress passed in 1832. On the early records of the County Court we 
find the following declaration : 

State of Illinois, 1^ ^ pjggg. 
Coles Cointt, J 

On the 15th day of October, personally appeared in open court before Isaac Lewis and James 
S. Martin, County Commissioners for the County of Coles, in the State of Illinois, now sitting, 
and constituting said County Commissioners' Court, Griffin Tipsoward, a citizen of the United 
States of America, in the County of Coles aud .Slate of Illinois, aged 77 years, who, being first 
duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain 
the benefit of the .\ct of Congress passed June 7th. 1832: That he entered the service of the 
Uuiled States as a Hevolutionary soldier under the following-named officers, and served as herein 
stated, viz.: In (ieneral Rutherford's Brigade, Colonel McKatty's Regiment, .Major Horn's Bat- 
talion and Captain Grimes' Company; that he entered the service about the 18th of July, 1775, 
and was discharged by General Washington at the close of the war, which discharge was sunk 
in the Ohio River. That he was in the engagement at the battle of Eutaw Springs, under General 
Greene, Col. McKatty. Major Horu and Captain Grimes ; that he was in the battle of King's 
Mountain, under Col. Shelby ; that he was in the battle of Charleston, under Col. McKatty and 
Capt. McGwire; that he was in the battle of Cross Creek, under General Gales, Col. McKatty 
anil (!'ai)t. McGwire ; that he was in the battle of Hawe River, commanded by Genl. Greene, Col. 
Chamberlain, Major I'cat and Capt. John Galloway. He states that he was here wounded by a 
musket-shot from the enemy's gun. That he marched first after leaving North Carolina into the 
State of Virginia; that he was at the surrenderor Lord Cornwallis, under General Washington, 
Col. McKatty and Capt. McGwire. That he lived in the County of Roan and State of North 
Carolina, when he entered the service ; that he was first drafted for three months ; he then, at 
the end lif the three months, volunteered, and was enlisted during the war. That he was born in 
the State of Pennsylvania, near the Susquehanna River, in the year of our Lord 175-") : ihat he 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 437 

has no record of his age that he knows of. That he moved to Kentucky the second year after 
the expiration of the war; that he settled in the neighborhood of Boonesborough, where he 
resided until he moved to the Territory of Illinois, in which Territory and State he has resided 
about twenty years. That he now resides in Coles County and State of Illinois ; that he supposes 
his name will be easily found on the Continental Rolls. He hereby relinquishes all claims what, 
ever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the 
pension-roll of the agency of any State. 

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. oia 

GkIFFIN X TiPSOWAKD. 
mark 

The truth of this declaration is attested to by John Parker and Joseph 
Painter, Revolutionary soldiers themselves, and who file similar declarations on 
their own behalf. The honesty and respectability of the petitioner is also 
attested by another ceitificate from John Parker, " a minister of the Gospel," 
and James Nees, after which is a certificate from the County Commissioners, 
stating that they believe the " foregoing dsclaration to be true, and that the 
said Griffin Tipsoward was a Revolutionary soldier and served as therein 
stated," and recommended that the pension applied for be paid him. 

Stephen Sargent was originally from New Hampshire, but removed to Ken- 
tucky when that State was in its infancy. He came to Illinois in 1836, to Hutton 
Township in 1838, and settled on Section 11, where he resided until his death 
in 1878. Stephen Stone was originally from Virginia, and was one of the very 
early settlers of this town. He died here many years ago. Reddick 
Cartwright, a relative of the famous pioneer preacher, Peter Cartwright, 
came to this section about 1827-28. He was from Tennessee, and is 
long since dead. John Wilkerson, John Walker and Hugh Doyle were among 
the early settlers. Where Wilkerson came from is not remembered ; he 
removed to Texas a good many years ago. Walker was from Indiana here, and 
died long ago. Doyle came here from Crawford County, and moved to Missouri, 
where he died. Andrew Endsley came from Ohio in 1838, and settled near 
the present village of Salisbury, where he died. A son, Andrew Endsley, Jr., 
is still living in the neighborhood, one of the prosperous farmers of the country. 
Charles Harris was one of the early settlers of Hutton Township. He was 
originally from Kentucky, but had been living in the south part of the State 
for some time before coming to this section. Charles R. Martin came to Hut- 
ton in 1837, and is from Kentucky. He has a clock, one of the old-timers, that 
extends from the floor to the ceiling, that has been keeping time for ninety years. 

David Weaver, one of the pioneers of this township, and who has passed 
to his reward since we began our work of compiling the history of the county, 
was a native of North Carolina. In an early day, his father having determined 
to emigrate to the West, packed his earthly all into a wagon, crossed the Alle- 
ghanies and continued the journey until he reached Lawrence County, Ind. 
Here he located, and, in 1833, David and a brother came to Coles County. 
David Weaver settled in the eastern part of what is now Hutton Township. 
He is represented as an energetic and public-spirited man, joining heartily in 



438 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

whatever was calculated to promote the interests of the country. He appears 
to have been of a rather restless disposition, and not contented long in one 
place. lie entered land, bought land, and would locate, plant an orchard, 
and, in a few years, remove to another location. At one time, he, with two 
others, owned a saw-mill in what was called " String Town," and, a few years 
later, he and George Oliver had a saw-mill on the west bank of the Embarrass 
River. The following story is told of his attempt to take a flatboat out of the 
Embarrass River : " During the winter, he built the boat, upon the bank of 
the river, loaded it with hoop-poles and waited for the spring rain to raise the 
river. Finally, the anxiously-expected freshet came, and his boat floated down 
the raging stream. All went well until it reached Newton, the county seat of 
Jasper County, when it became unmanageable, drifted from the main channel, 
struck a snag, and became a total wreck." The following extract is from an 
obituai-y notice in the Charleston Plaindealer : " While it is true that he has 
gone to the land 'from whose bourn no traveler returns,' yet, he is. and will 
long be remembered, 'by the word he has spoken, the things he has done.' 
There has, perhaps, been none other of Coles County's pioneers, who did more 
for the benefit of the county, during its infancy, than Mr. Weaver. Beside fur- 
nishing the county with many orchards, he did many other things for its advance- 
ment. He aided in surveying and clearing out the Charleston and Westfield 
road, took an active part in the business of the county, and truly, made him- 
self a necessity to the people in their time of need. By trade, he was a car- 
penter. As a neighbor, he was kind and generous, always I'eady to lend a 
helping hand. He died at his residence in Hutton Township, February 6, 
1879, leaving his aged companion to mourn his loss." 

William Waldruff and Anthony Cox settled in the town in 1828, on the 
Parker Prairie. Anthony Cox, Jr., was a soldier in Company JK, One Hundred 
and Twenty-third Illinois Volunteers, and was killed in the battle of Perry- 
ville, October 8, 1862. Jonathan Parker, of Company F, same regiment, was 
killed in same battle. James Nees, Charles Miller and William Cook settled 
in the southern part of the township, near the present village of " Dog Town." 
Joseph Painter* settled in the neighborhood soon after. He, too, was a Revolu- 
tionary soldier, and made application for a pension under act of Congress of 18-32. 

This concludes the early settlers of Hutton Township, together with the 
time of their settlement, so far as we have been able to learn them. There 
are, doubtless, many omissions, but, after the lapse of all thefe years, and with 
the fact that so few of the pioneers are still living, it is not at all strange that 
names are overlooked that are deserving of record in these pages. 

EARLY HISTORY. 

When the first white people came to this township, the whole country, north 
and west, was an almost unbroken wilderness, in possession of the aborigines. 

* JoBcpb Painter was a Revolutionary soldier, and filed a declaration In the County Conimiasionera* Court, apply- 
ing for a pension, similar to that of Tipsoward, piven in this chapter. 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 439 

Wild beasts, and men as wild and savage as they, roamed through it at will, 
its undisputed masters. There are a few still living in Hutton Township 
who knew it fifty years ago, who have known it ever since. They remember 
the "pole cabins " put up by the early settlers as temporary shelters from the 
fury of the elements ; they remember the cabins built of logs split open, " to 
make them go further ;" the puncheon floors, with cracks large enough for a child 
to fall through ; the yawning fire-place and the chimney built of sticks and " cats 
and clay.' They, too, remember the old Gary and barshare plows, the slow- 
going oxen, the " scythe and cradle " and the wooden-tooth harrow. And 
they remember the time when they went to the Sangamon and Wabash Rivers 
to mill, spending a week on the trip, and the time when they pounded their corn 
in a block, sifted it, made bread of the finest and hominy of the coarser meal. 
They have seen the wilderness they first knew develop into as fine and pros- 
perous a country as the sun shines on. 

The first mill in Hutton Township was built by Benjamin Parker in 1824-25, 
on the Embarrass River, opposite where the Blakeman Mills now stand. This 
was supposed to be, as it is, an excellent mill-site, and thus attracted attention 
at an early day. Before Parker built his mill liere, which was completed and 
commenced operation in the latter part of 1825, the few people then in the 
community used to go to the Sangamon River to mill, and to the Wabash, near 
Vincennes. Parker sold this mill to a man named Shaw, and, after operating 
it for a time, Shaw sold it to Norfolk & Baker, of Charleston. Theymoved it 
across the river, to the spot where the Blakeman Mills stand, and where they, 
later, erected the elegant mills now owned by Blakeman. These famous mills 
consist of a large frame building, to which there has been added a large brick struct- 
ure, making altogether quite a huge pile of buildings. Several runs of buhrs are 
kept pretty busily in motion to supply the trade. A circular-saw mill has been 
added, which does a large business in lumber. 

The first blacksmith in Hutton was John Ashby, mentioned as one of the 
early settlers, who came here from North Carolina, and opened a shop about 
1827-28, not far from the present village of Salisbury. He kept a shop 
here many years, and finally died in the neighborhood. The first orchard 
planted in the township was by David Weaver, about 1834-35, on what is now 
known as the Smoot farm. Previous to this efi"ort at fruit-culture, the people 
had to content themselves with "sour grapes." Who sold the first goods in 
the settlement it is hard to say, at the present time, but a little store in " String 
Town'' was perhaps the first. The first man who administered to the ills of 
the body was James Hite, long a resident of Ashmore Township. He was not 
a regular physician, but being a man of considerable intelligence and some 
knowledge of the science of medicine, he could handle the ague and bilious 
fever pretty successfully, and in such cases did a great deal of gratuitous prac- 
tice. Dr. Ferguson, of Charleston, was the first regular physician who practiced 
in the community, and for many yeai-s visited the sick of Hutton Township. 



440 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

The first bridge in this township was built across the Embarrass River 
at the Blakeman Mills, but just what year is not now remembered. It 
was a wooden structure, and served for a number of years, and becoming 
useless was replaced with another of its kind, which, in turn, was finally super- 
seded by the splendid iron bridge now spanning the river at this point. 
Mr. Hutton was the first person who crossed this iron bridge. Going to 
Charleston on business one day, the workmen told him ihey would have the 
new bridge ready for him to cross on as he came back. As he returned 
home, the floor not being quite finished, they laid down loose plank so that 
he could cross over. 

Joel Conley and James Gill (the latter now living in Cumberland County) 
were the first Justices of the Peace in Hutton Township. When the county 
adopted township organization, in 1859-60, John Hutton was the first Super- 
visor, and held the oflice for three terms, successively, and James Rennels was 
the first Town Clerk. At present, the township ofiicers are as follows, viz. : 
AV. R. Co.x. Supervisor ; A. B. Tucker and W. D. Merritt, Justices of the 
Peace, and Frederick E. Cottingham, Town Clerk. 

RELIGIOrS AND EDrCATIONAL. 

In our meanderings, we discovered nine church-buildings ; how many others 
are nestled among the hills of Hutton, we are unable to say. Since that first ser- 
mon was preached by Daniel Parker, on the banks of the Embarrass, fifty years ago, 
the Gospel has spread in this region proportionately with everything else. The 
town has three Christian Churches, two United Brethren, two "Separate ' 
Baptist, one Missionary Baptist, and one Methodist Episcopal Church. The 
latter church was built in 1870, and is located within a few rods of Mr. Hut- 
ton's residence. It is a modern frame building, and has a large and flourishing 
congregation ; Rev. Mr. Burks is Pastor. 

The first of the Christian Churches was built at " String Town,'' about 
1836-37, and was a little log building. Before its erection, they held their 
religious services in the "Hickory" schoolhouse, so called from being built of 
hickory logs. After using their log church for a number of years, they 
replaced it with a substantial brick. We do not know if this house was 
built upon the sand, but were told that the "winds blew and the floods came 
and beat upon that house, and it fell." In May, 1876, it was blown down to 
tlie floor, durins: a severe storm. Since then, a liandsome frame structure has 
been built on the old brick foundation. This Church has a large membership, 
of which Rev. Mr. Young is the s|)iritual adviser. Northeast of Salisbury, is 
another Christian Church, a brick building, and, west of it, is also a Christian 
Church. 

North of Salisbury, is a United Brethren Church, and southeast of the 
little village, three and a half miles, is another of the same denomination. 
Both of these churches are in the bounds of the same circuit, and Rev. Mr. 



HISTORY OF COLES COUllTY. 441 

Collins is the Pastor of both. The first church erected in the township was by 
the United Brethren, just across the line from Westfield, and was a large frame. 
It is still standing, but, since the building of the church at Westfield, has been 
evacuated, and is not used now. There is quite an extensive burying-ground 
at it, whei-e sleep many of the Hutton pioneers. 

About three-fourths' of a mile west of Mr. Button's is what is called a 
" Separate" Baptist Church, and was built in 18;J7 or 18-58. It is a substan- 
tial frame building. Rev. Mr. Turner is Pastor of it. A very pretty little ceme- 
tery, studded with white marble slabs, is adjacent to this church. Two miles 
south of Hutton post office is the Missionary Baptist Church, of which Rev. 
Mr. Thornton is Pastor : and, a mile or two north of the Hutton post office, is 
another church of the " Separate'' Baptists. One of the very early preachers 
of this town, and the first who ever preached on the " Hurricane'' waters, was 
Rev. Stanley Walker. He was a Hardshell Baptist, but finally joined the 
"Separate" Baptists. In the village of Diona, just on the line between this 
county and Cumberland, is a church of the United Brethren and Cumberland 
Presbyterians. 

As to who taught the first school in the township, there is some doubt. One 
of the first remembered, however, was taught by a man named Ellis ; but 
whether it was the first of all, cannot be ascertained now. The house in 
which it was taught was a small log cabin, of the style usually devoted to school 
purposes in the early times. The town, at the present day, is well supplied 
with good comfortable schoolhouses, and e.xcellent schools are maintained dur- 
ing the school-term. No township in the county has more extensive school 
facilities than Hutton. 

The first death in Hutton Township was a Mrs. Whitten, the wife of a 
millwright who was engaged on the Parker Mill, and was the first death in 
Coles County as well as in Hutton Township. Her death occurred in 1825, 
and she was buried on the bluff", a few hundred yards east of the mill. The 
first marriage in the town is lost in the mists of antiquity, and the first birth 
involved in some doubt. A birth occurred in the family of William Beaver, 
soon after his settlement here, but whether the first in the neighborhood is not 
known. 

POLITICS AXD P.^TRIOTISM. 

Hutton Township has always been a Democratic town. In the days when 
it was a voting precinct, and Whigs and Democrats the prevailing parties, it 
voted for Gen. Jackson. It is Democratic now by from fifty to one hundred 
votes. In patriotism, Hutton ranks with any town in the county. It has 
has always had its heroes in the way of old soldiers. There were John 
John Parker, Griffin Tipsoward, George Cottingham and Joseph Painter, 
■who faced the legions of King George in our struggle for Independence. 
Among the heroes of 1S12, are George Cottingham, John Scott and Nicholas 
Lemming, and John Hutton, of the Black Hawk war. In the late war. Hut- 



442 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

ton Township was ably represented. When the tocsin of war sounded through 
the land, her sturdy sons left 

" The plow in the mid-furrow stayed," 

and, seizing their " target and claymore," marched for the front. Button 
kept ahead of all the calls of the Government, furnishing her full complement, 
even before called for. She never had a draft, and could have stood another 
call without being subjected to one. Several of her sons never returned ; their 
dust mingles with that of the far-off battle-fields where they fell, " victims to 
atone the war." Peace to their ashes, and lightly may the clods rest upon them. 

THE VILLAGES. 

Salisbury or Hutton is located on Section 9, and has scarcely attained to 
the dignity of a village, being nothing more than a cluster of a dozen or two 
houses. It is, however, an old place, having been laid out as a village December 
28, 1837, and, no doubt, at some remote period of its existence, entertained 
lofty aspirations of becoming a place of magnitude. But railroads passing 
within a dozen miles of it, have forever blasted these bright anticipations. It 
was laid out by George K. Harris and John Hulin. The place was first called 
Stewart, but when a post office was obtained, there was found " another Rich- 
mond in the field," otherwise a post ofiice already of that name, and this then 
was called Ashby. But this name being so similar to Ashley, the "wrong 
mail frequently went to the wrong place." The little town by this time had 
assumed so much importance that one name was found to be insufficient, and 
80 matters were compromised by calling the post office Hutton and the town 
Salisbury, for Salisbury, N. C, the native place of Mr. Hulin, one of the pro- 
prietors of the place. A man named Gilbert built the first house in Salisbury, 
or Saulsbury as the people call it, and he and a man named Bartness kept the 
first store. Who kept the post office first, is not now remembered, but it is 
supposed to have been kept by one of the last-named gentlemen. The present 
Postmaster is Dr. J. S. Garner, who was First Lieutenant of Company K, 
Forty- eighth Regiment Kentucky Volunteers, during the late war. Salisbury 
has no churches or schoolhouses within its corporate limits, but it i.s surrounded 
by both just outside of its "embattled walls." It has a Masonic Lodge — 
Hutton Lodge, No. 698— which was organized in 1872. The first officers were : 
George Bidle, Worshipful Master; C. P. Rosencrans, Senior Warden ; John 
A. Stull, Junior Warden ; C. Fucjua, Treasurer ; Allen Hill, Secretary ; S. S. 
Bills, Senior Deacon ; F. E. Cottingham, Junior Deacon, and Owen Wiley 
Tiler. The present officers are : A. N. Rosencrans, Worshipful Master ; John 
A. Stull, Senior Warden; J. B. Lee, Junior Warden; T. A. Bensley. Treas- 
urer, and F. E. Cottingham, Secretary, with between fifty and seventy members. 
The business of Hutton is as follows : One store, Endslcy & Co. ; one 
millinery store, Mrs. Sarah McDonald ; three blacksmith-shops, two with wood- 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 443 

shops added ; one physician, Dr. J. S. Garner, and Postmaster ; one Justice of 
Peace, A. B. Tucker, and one Masonic Lodge. 

The village of Diona, usually called by the poetic name of " Dog Town," 
in point of population is about the equal of Salisbury. Small as it is, however, 
one county is not large enough to hold it, and it is located about equally in 
Coles and Cumberland Counties. It is divided into four wards by the county 
line, and the Congressional township line, the latter running through it from 
north to south, and the county line from east to west. Diona has never been 
laid out as a village, but is merely an accidental collection of houses, as it 
were, with a store or two, a post oiBce, shops, etc. Nicholas McMorris is Post- 
master. He lives in Cumberland County, but his store and post oiBce are in Coles 
County. Matthews & Fulkerson also have a store here, and there is a Church 
of the United Brethren and Cumberland Presbyterians, as elsewhere stated. 

"String Town "' is merely a nickname given to a rather thickly-settled 
neighborhood, on account of several mechanic-shops, a saw- mill, a church and a 
little store formerly kept here. Thomas Goodman kept a store here at one 
time, also a man of the name of Peppers. But all is past, and the glory of 
String Town has departed. There is nothing left but the church and one or 
two residences to tell where erst " String Town " stood. 

EAST OAKLAND TOWNSHIP. 

In a country like ours, the department of history can claim to chronicle 
no mighty events, nor relate any of those local traditions that make many 
countries of the Old World so famous in story and song, yet they serve the 
purpose of directing attention to the rise, progress and present standing of 
places, whicli may fairly claim in the future what has made others great in 
the past. With these lines of preface, we will say a few words of the boundary 
and topography of one of the finest sections of Coles County. 

Oakland Township, or East Oakland, as it is called, lies in the northeast 
corner of the county ; bounded on the north and east by Douglas and Edgar 
Counties on the south by Ashmore Township, and on the west by Embarrass 
River. It is a little more than a full Congressional township, being seven sec- 
tions from north to south, and six full sections wide in the narrowest place, 
while in some of the bends of the river it extends in nearly a section deeper. 
Brush Creek is the principal stream aside from the Embarrass River, but the 
land does not need additional drainage. The town contained, originally, much 
fine timber, of all the different varieties common in this portion of the State, 
and. although a great deal of it has been consumed, there is still left enough 
for all practical purposes. The Illinois Midland Railway passes through the 
north part of the town, from east to west, and has added much to the impor- 
tance of this section of the county. The village of Oakland is a thriving place 
of four or five hundred inhabitants, and will be more fully described further on. 



444 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

THE SETTLEMENT. 

The first white settler in this vicinity, is supposed to have been Samuel 
Ashmore. He came to this immediate neighborhood in 1829. though his first 
settlement was in what is now Douglas County, but included for years in Coles 
County. He settled on what was known as the Laughlin farm, and now owned 
by Andrew Gwinn. Here he remained but a couple of years, when he removed 
to the present limits of Oakland Township. He was from the State of Tennes- 
see, and was Captain under Gen. Jackson in the war against the Creek Indi- 
ans, and in the battle of New Orleans, and always retained the warmest vener- 
ation for " Old Hickory. When he removed to this section, three of his sons 
— Clayborne, at the time married, and George W. and Madison, single — came 
with him. At the time of Mr. Aslimore's location here, Paris and Grand View 
•were the nearest settlements to him. From the Oakland Herald we make the 
following extract : " Resolving to leave Tennessee, whose chattel-slavery he 
thoroughly detested, with his brothers William, James and Amos, and all their 
families, he came to the Wabash country. Here he soon fell into the chronic 
frontier style of life, common to-day as it was then. First to make an improve- 
ment and next to make a sale, and, when that is made, go to chopping 
upon another claim. If it be true that a rolling stone gathers no moss, it is 
apparent that the tramp-farmer is a failure. By the help of his sons, he opened 
a farm near Darwin, cleared off one hundred acres of bottom timber, built a 
two-story house and several stables and out-houses ; after that, he sold the whole 
' caboodle ' to his sonin-law for $600, in order to get to the Embarrass country. 
* * * Having succeeded in selling his first location to Mr. Laughlin, 

Mr. Ashmore moved down to Hoge's Branch, where most of his sons and sons- 
in-law had by this time settled; he commenced work on what is now known 
as the Barbour farm. Here, after filling the oflBce of Justice of the Peace, he 
died in 1838 ; aged, as his tombstone states, sixty years." Mr. Ashmore, as 
stated, had several sons, who settled in this section at an early day. Some of 
them came with him, and others a few years later. In 1831, James and Hez- 
ekiah Ashmoi-e settled in the neighborhood. These were his sons, and the 
latter, after remaining liere a short time, removed to Ashmore Township, where 
he is more fully noticed. Samuel Hoge, a son-in-law of Samuel Ashmore, 
settled here also in 1831. James Black, another son-in-law, came at the same 
time. They are long since dead. 

Stanton Pemberton came in the fall of 1831. lie was from AViishington 
County, Ya. Tiie Herald, which jjublished some reminiscences* a year or two 
ago, says of the Pembertons : "Mr. Pemberton was not healthy, and lived but 
a few years. His widow continued with us till 18.54, and lies bui-ied in the 
upper grave-yard. She was remarkable for three things — her candor, her good 
cooking and her genuine hospitality. Her son, Alfred D. Pemberton, still lives 

*Tho«e n-miniscenooa were publieln-il during tho auminor of 1877, and contain much pertaining to tlie early 
-history of thia Mection. Uouco wc shall make frequent extracts from tlioui. 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 445 

on the old place, and ' Uncle Jack,' as the children call him, continues with us 
in the village — a well-preserved specimen of the olden time." Two sons of Mr. 
Pemberton, A. D. and J. J. Pemberton, and two daughters, are still living in 
the neighborhood where they located nearly fifty years ago. John King came 
from Tennessee in 1832, and may be reckoned among the early settlers. He 
moved to Iowa, where he still lived at last accounts of him. 

In 1830, James Reddin and Eli Sargent settled in Oakland Township. 
Reddin built a horse-mill, the first institution of its kind in the country, and 
one of great convenience to the scattered pioneers. His descendants still own 
the land upon which he settled so long ago. Sargent was from Ohio, and 
located adjoining Mr. Ashmore. He is said to have been a man of considerable 
wealth, and entered several hundred acres of land. " He, too, brought with 
him his sons and daughters. The latter made the journey on horse-back, and 
had a gay old time riding through the wilderness. The world was not so wide 
then as it is now. and he and Mr. Ashmore soon discovered an incompatibility 
of temperament, which the narrow bounds of the country aggravated exceed- 
ingly."* Mr. Sargent was not a healthy man, and suffered long and severely. 
He died in 1834, and, says the Herald, referring to his death, " of his family 
there survive his daughter, Mrs. Guinn, and his stepdaughter, Mrs. Sargent, 
of this village, who have the honor, we believe, to be the only ones who remain 
with us of the immigration of 1830." We make no excuse for the following 
lengthy extracts from these reminiscences. Referring to a pioneer family, it is 
of interest as a part of the early history of the country. " After Mr. Sargent's 
death, his widow bought the Samuel Hoge farm, and with her son, John L. 
Berry, and her daughter Rachel, made her home there, where she died in April 
1847, in her sixtieth year. Afflicted with asthma, she was an inveterate smoker, 
of course, but possessed uncommon business capacity. Mounted on ' Old 
Ned,' in rain or sunshine, day or night, she attended all calls upon her pro- 
fessional services, and in this particular alone was an exceedingly useful person. 
Ned was a favorite — a large, brown, pacing horse, which she had reared from a 
colt. Within the thirty years of his life, he had carried her everywhere that 
she went ; three times from the Embarrass to the Scioto. He survived his 
mistress a year. Reared in Kentucky, Mrs. Berry had been left a widow, with 
poverty and several young children for an inheritance. Her eSects then con- 
sisted of twenty acres of ground, her horse, Ned, a slave woman and her chil- 
dren. Sickness came, bread became scarce and the wolf looked in at the door. 
The slave woman and the horse did the farming, and had it not been for the 
woman and the horse, her family would have come to absolute want. When 
she married Mr. Sargent (who was a rich man), she went with him to Ohio, 
taking Ned and two of the five children of the colored woman. To her she left 
the land, who, after a trial of eighteen months, left it and went as a cook to a 
hotel in Louisville. Here she died, and Mrs. Sargent had her other three chil- 

♦Oakland Herald. 



446 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

dren sent to Ohio, and ultimately brought them all to this country. Her most 
judicious advisers, including her husband, had urged her to sell them, to put 
them in her pocket, etc., and showed her the ' black laws ' of Illinois and all 
the difficulties of the situation. But no, the memory ot that woman and 
horse toiling in the sun, to raise bread for her and her children when she lay 
sick and prostrate, was not to be overcome. Worldly woman as she was, she 
possessed a determined will, and she decided never to sell them. * * * 
Mrs. Sargent was a woman of limited education, and knew nothing about the 
abstract doctrine of human rights. She was a Baptist, and neither knew nor 
cared, perhaps, for Wesley's opinion on the 'sum of all villainies,' and of 
Abolitionism, she concurred in the then common opinion, that its advocates 
were thieves of a hideous character. What was it that caused her to withstand 
the pressure of interest ': Was it gratitude, or was it instinct, or was it both ? 
Thirty years have passed away, but it seems to us as but yesterday that we saw 
her sitting by her great fire-place, indulging in her pipe, with death awaiting at 
her elbow; a picture of stoical calm, which we have never seen equaled within 
our threescore years of time." 

Another of the early settlers in this township, and who deserves more than 
a mere passing notice, was Thomas Affleck. He came from the "lowlands " of 
Scotland in 1832, and first settled on the Wabash, near Clinton, but came to 
this settlement in 1836. His wife is said to have been a most amiable woman, 
and died in 1840. Mr. Affleck is spoken of as a fine violinist, and spent much 
time in exercising on the sweet and pathetic airs of " Bonnie Scotia." Says 
one: " His rendering of ' Roy's Wife of Aldivalloch' was such as none but a 
native Scot could equal. With his chin pressed down upon his fiddle, his large 
head and great staring eyes above, together with his powerful voice, he repeated 
and practiced the music of his native land." He was a model farmer and spent 
much time and labor in looking after his farm, digffing ditches and otherwise 
improving it. He had once been a grocer in Dumfries, Scotland, his native 
place, and though long out of the business when he came to this country, it is 
said he \Yas almost unequaled in putting up packages of goods, and could put 
up more coffee, sugar or pepper in a paper than any merchant in Oakland. 
And that when he had completed a job of this kind, the form of the package 
and the turns of the wrapping thread would be very artistic. He was quite a 
hunter, and when he wanted game he would " harness " up a yoke of cattle to 
his sleigh and strike out for the hunting-grounds, where, turning his cattle loose 
to feed, he would sit and wait and watch for his game, and would rarely miss a 
single shot in bringing it down. He was a great mechanical genius, and on 
this point a Dr. Pease, an amateur phrenologist, found his head on measure- 
ment to be twenty-four inches in circumference — equal to a No. 9 hat — and his 
"bump of mechanics" the largest he had ever examined. Referring to his 
mechanical genius, the reminiscences published in the Herald, from which we 
have already quoted extensively, say: " One of these was a mode of moving 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 447 

sandbars and deepening the outlet channels of rivers and harbors. This proc- 
ess, as he often described it to us, was very similar to the jetty system now used 
by Capt. Eads at the mouth of the Mississippi. It consisted in first confining 
the water by the means of ballast and piling on each side of the desired channel. 
This means he held would, of itself, in time effect its purpose, but to hasten it 
on he next proceeded to drive in the channel, every eight or ten feet, iron piling. 
These iron piling consisted of two flat bars perforated with inch holes and joined 
at the points, but designed to be separated above by the distance of an inch or 
less. He next let down between the bars thus constructed, sections of boiler- 
iron, twenty or thirty feet long, to a point near the bottom, where it was secured 
by pins placed in the bars. Thus, when the work was completed, it somewhat 
resembled the lower board of a plank fence, and the water forced underneath 
was expected to tear out a channel. This, in brief, is an outline of his idea. 
He claimed that he had successfully applied it on the Clyde, and in other har- 
bors in Scotland, and had presented his project and claims to the Board of 
Admiralty. Of Sir James Graham, the then head of the Board, he spoke with 
his characteristic bitterness, and, being in lack of means, he turned his back in 
disgust upon the Old World, to find a home and a grave in Illinois." The 
Herald, concluding it lengthy notice of Mr. Affleck, says : " But the habit of 
strong drink was the evil genius of his latter days, and when under its influence 
his temper and invective were peculiar and terrific. He thus went on drinking 
himself to death as fast as he could, hoping, in his unhappiness, soon to be at 
rest by the side of his deceased wife. His son-in-law. Rev. A. 0. Allen, per- 
suaded him at last to go with him to his residence at Terre Haute, but not until 
the old man had exacted a pledge of Mr. Mosely and other citizens that they 
would see to the return of his body when the end should come. He did not 
stay long ; he parted with the world and its troubles on the 2d of June, 1852, 
aged 67 years: and Mr. Mosely and the citizens of Oakland fulfilled their pledge 
and laid him by the side of the wife of his youth." 

Lyman, Almon and Daniel Keyes were from the Empire State, and settled 
at what is still known as Donica's Point. They are all long since dead. 
Lyman went to the Mexican war, and left his bones to bleach on the bloody 
field of Chapultepec. Thomas Blair was another old settler at Donica's 
Point, but his native place is not now remembered. L. E. Archer was a Ver- 
monter, and came to this settlement in an early day. He was an odd charac- 
ter, and many hard stories are still .told of him. He was very close in his 
dealings, and always got the besL end of a bargain in a trade with his fellow- 
men, even stretching the truth to accomplish his purpose. It is said that his 
capacity for drinking whisky was almost unbounded, and that he always 
bought it by the gallon, in order to get it a little cheaper ; less than that 
quantity did him no good or harm, but after he had drunk a gallon it then 
began to "fly into his head." He died at the age of eighty-four years, and 
his family are scattered to the four quarters of the earth. A man named 



448 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

Donica, was the first settler at this place, and from him it took its name, but 
we were unable to obtain much information in regard to him. 

William Nokes, or " Uncle Billy " Nokes, as he was called mostly, was an 
extraordinary character that should have special notice in these pages. He 
was from Kentucky, and came here at an early day in the settlement of Oak- 
land Township. Like the great lawyer we have heard of, he 

"Prided himself on his learned diclion, 
And diluted the truth with a good deal of fiction." 

He was a great romancist, and like the majority of that class, he was usually 
the hero of his own stories. He used to say that in his younger days in the 
old Blue-Grass State, he had been a great favorite among the ladies, and had 
been compelled at a single term of the court at Louisville, to answer to a 
dozen different suits for breach of promise. From the personal description we 
received of him,* we do not doubt his power of attraction with the daugh- 
ters of Eve. He went by the name of "Old Bag o' Shot," a name given 
him in honor of one of his stories, in which he claimed to have carried a 
bag, containing half a bushel of shot, along the streets of Louisville, and as 
the frost had just come out of the ground, he sunk to his knees every step, 
while the bricks of the pavement piled around his feet. This story, it is said, 
grew by repetition until the shot became two bushels and the displaced brick 
reached to his waist. Another story told of him, is that he once went to old 
'Squire Ashmore's and made a complaint against a young man of eighteen 
years, for assault and battery. Though he was considerably "bunged up," the 
'Squire persuaded him that it would not look well in a man who had carried 
two bushels of shot to prosecute a stripling of eighteen years, and so in his 
good-nature, Mr. Nokes withdrew his complaint. He removed to Iowa many 
years ago, where he died. 

The winter of the " deep snow " (1830-31) two families encamped on the 
Embarrass River, near where the railroad crosses. After the melting of the 
snow, the river rose higher than ever known before or since. One of these fam- 
ilies was that of Aaron Collins, mentioned among the early settlers of Morgan 
Township, the other was a Mr. Mason, who settled on this side of the river, on 
what is now known as the Naphew farm. He did not remain here long, but 
sold to a man named William Chadd, a blacksmith, millwright and jack-of-all 
trades. Chadd was from the White River country in Indiana, possessed con- 
siderable means, and by the aid of three sons and seven daughters, soon opened 
a large farm. He is described as a " little, wizened, dried-up man of sixty, 
with a large nose and a very full eye." " Old Shad," the people called him 
for short, like Nokes, often regaled his friends with .some very extravagant 
stories. Speaking of his resources, one day, he said he had a bushel of " cut 
money" laid by for a "rainy day." Like many of the other early settlers, he 
took the mill fever, and in addition to his blacksmith-shop, built a " corn- 

* A Hnub-noBed, big-mouthed, coarec-fentured, stoop-sbouldered mau." 



J 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 449 

cracker " near by. Being asked one day if he could grind wheat on his mill, 
replied, " Well, yes, if I had a bolting-cloth ; in fact, I told the boys the other 
day that we'd try it, so I took a bushel of very clean, nice wheat and ground it. 
I then took the grist over to Mr. Reddin's and bolted it. Well, sir, I had a 
hundred pounds of flour and two and a half bushels of bran." Again we extract 
from the Herald's reminiscences: " Mr. Chadd was possessed in a high degree 
with personal dignity. His children treated him with profound respect ; he 
was no joker, and did not permit anybody to joke him. Any insinuation as to 
the truth of his stories he promptly resented, for he told them in dead, sober 
earnestness. Seated on a horse-block one day. conversing with Mosely and 
Pemberton on the subject of music, he observed that the jew's-harp, if properly 
made, was the best instrument known. That he had once made one for a boy, 
a good big one several feet long. The bows or frame he made of " tire-iron " 
and the tongue was an inch steel bar. ' Why, you could,' said he, 'hear it 
three miles ! ' At this point Mr. Pemberton stupidly inquired as to how the 
boy got it into his mouth. Chadd treated the query with contemptuous silence, 
but afterward remarked to Mr. Mosely, ' Jack Pemberton would like to say 
something smart if he knew how.' The limits of this article forbids further 
details. A volume would scarcely contain all the incidents of Mr. Chadd's 
eventful life. Who has not heard of his duel before breakfast, when in a room 
eighteen feet square, securely locked, he and his antagonist armed with knives, 
fought for eight hours, ankle-deep in blood ? Who has not heard of his quarry- 
blast on White River, which required the labor and teams of a hundred men six 
months to remove ? Who has not heard of his snake story, of his fish story, and 
his perpetual-motion saw-mill? Mr. Chadd was gathered to his fathers long 
ago, in tlie fullness of time and a good old age.' We will give one more 
instance of his India-rubber stories, and then pass on to other scenes. This was 
of his professional experience, which he related to Dr. Rutherford, and exhibited 
to him his " spring lancet " and his " pullikin," the latter for extracting teeth, 
and estimated the number of teeth drawn with them, or it, at several barrels, 
and the blood shed by the "lancet " at the hogshead measure. He stated to 
the Doctor that he had once been applied to tap a woman for dropsy. From 
this duty he had shrunk, pleading ignorance and other disqualifications, but as 
no physician was in reach, he made an efibrt, and although the woman was a 
small one, he drew from her one hundred and twenty gallons of water. 

Martin Zimmerman came from Augusta County, Va., in 1836, and settled 
first in Edgar County, where he remained about a year, and then removed to 
this township. He resided here until his death, which occurred in 1852. He 
has many descendants still in the county, who are among the prominent farmers 
and business men of the country. Enoch Sears and Asa Reddin were also 
early settlers in this township. David Winkler and the Hoskinses settled on 
Brush Creek. There are, perhaps, other old settlers whose names should be 
mentioned, but we have failed to obtain them. And then, after the Black Hawk 



450 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

war, emigrants came in so rapidly that it is impossible to keep track of the 
period of their settlement and where they came from. So we will not attempt 
to further particularize, but take up other matters of interest. 

FR.^fiMENTS OF HISTORY. 

By reference to the map in the front part of this work, it will be noticed 
that there is a jog, of two sections in width, in the north line of the county, the 
full extent of Oakland Township. When Douglas County was set off from 
Coles, says Capt. Adams in his Centennial Address, the village of Oakland 
was regarded as having "great room for outgrowth and development" (and, we 
may add, it still retains this expectation of its people). Therefore, Coles 
County, as well as the people of Oakland, were unwilling that the village should 
be cut off in a new county ; hence the jog above referred to was made to keep 
the village of Oakland in this county. 

Here, as in all newly-settled communities, attention was directed at an early 
day to mills ; for, with all the great inventions of the age, there has not yet 
been one devised by which the human race can live without bread. And in 
this town, as elsewhere, the mill business was in high popular favor forty years 
or more ago. To own a horse-mill gave one an air of importance, and a saw 
or grist mill, as an old settler expressed it, rendered the fortunate owner 
"the biggest toad in the puddle." One of the first efforts at a water-mill was 
by Mr. Laughlin, where the rivc-r crosses the northwest corner of Section 12 : 
but he was not very successful in his attempt. It passed into the hands of 
Henry McCumbers, familiarly called " Old Sport." But he never realized 
much from it, and, after struggling on with it for a few years with a persever- 
ance worthy of a better cause, he finally gave it up entirely. A man by the 
name of Whitlock also tried : and after a year's hard work, saw a friendly (or 
unfriendly) flood carry it away on a " march to the sea." Mr. Chadd referred 
to as the man of long-winded stories, in another part of this chapter, had 
a genius for mills as well as for story-telling. He built a mill near the present 
railroad-crossing. He tried undershot, turbine, and re-action wheels ; but they 
amounted to little, and finally a flood took the whole structure away, and sent 
it after its predecessor, down the river. David McConkey was another who 
spent more on a mill than he ever succeeded in getting back. It was the same 
old story — the floods carried it away, and left its owner in poverty. The era 
of steam-mills will be noticed in the history of the village. 

A man of the name of Robert Bell was the first regular carpenter in Oak- 
land Township, and, it is said, was a superior workman. Many specimens of 
his work still remain to testify to its quality. The finishing-lumber then was 
rough-sawed poplar, and had to be " dressed " by the carpenter, as planing- 
mills and sash-factories were unknown. Everything needed in the construc- 
tion of a house, including flooring, molding, etc., had to he worked out by 
hand, and the frames were generally of hewed material. The erection of a 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 451 

frame house, at that early period, was a much bigger job than at the present 
day ; and, in the place of the large lumber-yard we find in every town and 
village now, at that time the market was usually supplied by " whip-saw." At 
a very early day, Andrew Gwinn, with the aid of " Old Billy ' Nokes, ran one 
of these " whip-saw" mills. Two men could saw 200 feet in a day, and this 
sold at $4 per hundred. 

One of the first wagon-makers was a man named Alpheus Jacques. He, it 
is said, used to make wagons and buggies out of old rails and "'most anything 
he could pick up." His skill with the draw-knife was remarkable, and the 
rapidity with which he turned out work was truly marvelous. Among the early 
blacksmiths were David McConkey and William Chadd. McConkey made 
considerable money as such, and then spent it in his attempts at a mill on the 
Embarrass, as already stated. 

The first store in Oakland Township was kept by a man named Sherifl", an 
uncle to the present Postmaster at Paris, Edgar County. It was located on the 
road east of the village of Oakland, and his goods were hauled from Chicago 
by 'Squire Pemberton. " Chicago, then," says the 'Squire, " was no larger 
that the village of Oakland is now." The first post office in the township was 
kept by Wilson Morrison, east of the village. It was on the confines of a large 
grove, surrounded by oak-trees, and thus received the appropriate name of Oak- 
land — names since bestowed on the village and the township. In was on the 
mail-line between Paris and Decatur, and the mail was carried weekly on horse- 
back between those places. 

EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS. 

The name of the first pedagogue in Oakland is not now remembered, but 
schools were taught in the neighborhood quite early. The people have ever 
taken great interest in educational matters, and, at the present day, no town in 
Coles County is better favored with school fiicilities than Oakland. The matter 
will be again alluded to in the history of the village. 

Church organizations, also, will be further noticed in the village history, as 
the Presbyterian, the oldest organization in the town, is located in the village 
of Oakland. The only church edifice outside of the village is Prairie Union 
Christian Church, located in the southern part of the township. It was organ- 
ized in the neighborhood schoolhouse, March 1, 1871, with thirty-two mem- 
bers; three elders, viz., A. J. Shulse, S. D. Ilonn and D. W. Honn. The 
chui'oh was built and dedicated the same year the society was organized, and 
cost $1,830, not including the lot on which it stands. The present Elders 
are D. W. Honn, A. J. Shulse and John Childress. Previous to the erection 
of the church, the people of the neighborhood attended divine worship at the 
village of Kansas, in Edgar County. It is in a very flourishing state, with a 
present membership of about sixty-five, and a Sunday school during the sum- 
mer season. 



452 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

When settlements were first made in this part of the county, there were 
plenty of Indians in Southern Illinois, and likewise in this section. They 
were the Pottawatoraies, Winnebagoes and the Kickapoos. They were friendly 
and did the whites no harm. The fright of the Black Hawk war had little effect 
here, from the fact that at the time it took place, there were very few settlers 
in this neighborhood. The Indians had a trading-post near the village of 
Camargo, in Douglas County, established by two men named Vesor and Bul- 
bery, French Canadians. Near this post, the Indians had a burying-ground, 
and once every year held a grand powwow for the benefit of the departed souls 
of their deceased friends. In Morgan Township they had a camp, which is 
noticed in the history of that town. 

Oakland Township is Republican in politics at the present time. In the 
old days of Whigs and Democrats, it was Democratic by a small majority, not- 
withstanding it gave Harrison a small majority in 1840, and Clay, in 1844. 
With these exceptions, it was Democratic. In the late war, Oakland did its 
duty nobly, and sent many of its young men, and old ones, too, to do battle for 
the Union. 

The first Justice of the Peace in this section, was Samuel Ashmore, the old 
patriarch of the Ashmore family. The present justices of the township are, 
J. J. Pemberton and William Hunt. When Coles County adopted township' 
organization in 18G0, G. W. McConkey was the first Supervisor of Oakland 
Township. The present Supervisor is H. Rutherford, and N. P. Smith is the 
present Town Clerk. 

This concludes the general history of Oakland Township, and we will now 
proceed to devote a few pages to the history, laying-out and the location of 

THE VILLAGE OF OAKL.^ND. 

This enterprising little village is situated on the Illinois Midland Railroad, 
about twenty miles northwest from Paris. It was surveyed and laid out by 
Reubin Canterbury, County Surveyor, for Madison Ashmore, on the 12th of 
May, 1835. James Ashmore built the first residence in the village. McCord 
built a residence soon after the one built by Ashmore. Some say that McCord's 
was built before the village was laid out, while others hold to the fact as given 
above. The first store was kept by a man named McCleland. Another was 
opened very soon after McCleland's, by a Mr. Trembly, but neither lasted long, 
and both "broke" in the business. Says the i7t;rrt?c^ reminiscence : "For 
the next four years, no goods of any kind, save what a peddler might bring in, 
were sold in Oakland. Our trading had to be done in Charleston or Paris. 
Not a spool nor a thread, nor even a pin, was to be had short of these towns. 
There was nothing here to buy goods with. Four-year-old steers went at $10 
per head, and the only good horse we ever owned we bought for $50. Corn 
for many years never rated above 10 cents per bushel, and then was not consid- 
ered a merchantable article." 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 453 

The next effort at merchandising was made by Robert Moselj. In 1844, 
he opened a small stock of goods, and for a time had what little trade there 
was, all to himself. John Mills and R. T. Hackett were the next merchants, 
and about this time "Matt" Ashmore opened a kind of curiosity shop in Pem- 
berton's old tavern stand. In the year 1847, xP ember ton went into partnership 
with Mosely, and thus began their long partnership business. But we have 
neither time nor space to follow the mer cantile business through its long and 
eventful career to the present time. Other points demand our attention. 

The first tavern in Oakland was kept by Daniel Payne, soon after the lay- 
ing-out of the village, and the next, perhaps, was kept by 'Squire Pemberton. 
The village at present has two first-rate hotels — the Oakland House, kept by 
H. A. Frederick, and the Union Hotel, by Mrs. Jones. The first post office 
was kept by McCleland, elsewhere mentioned as the first merchant. The pres- 
ent Postmaster is L. C. Thornton. The first blacksmith in the village was a 
man named Maxon, and his shop was a counterpart of that described by Long- 
fellow, except that instead of the " spreading chestnut-tree '" it stood under a 
spreading oak-tree. We are informed that it consisted mainly of a bellows and 
anvil, rigged up under an oak tree, and that there was no building belonging to 
it. The first doctor to practice in this section was of the name of Montague, 
but of him we learned but little. The next was perhaps Dr. H. Rutherford, 
who came here in 1840, and practiced the healing profession until he amassed 
quite a snug fortune, and physicians became so plenty that he could retire from 
a long life of laborious work. 

In 1854, Clement i Clark built a steam-mill in the village of Oakland. It 
was a great institution in this primitive settlement, and people came for miles 
to see the engine work, and were frightened out of their wits when the steam 
blew off. A sash saw was added to it, but was soon dispensed with. The mill 
has several times changed proprietors and is now owned by John Burwell. The 
Smith mill, as it is called, is of rather recent building, and was put up by W. 
P. West some eight or ten years ago. The Herald's reminiscences thus speak 
of the originator of this last enterprise : '" This man was what might be termed 
a fool for luck, and a spendthrift by nature. His father gave him a large faitn 
at Culver's Grove. Getting embarrassed, he sold out, came down to this part of 
the country, and worried awhile with the McGonkey mill. He next got hold 
of the Frank Williams' steam grist and saw mill. He succeeded in trading this 
worthless property to Thomas Kinney for a good farm in Edgar County. Sell- 
ing the farm, he commenced building the mill before referred to, and at the same 
time he set up a grocery. About this time he succeeded in becoming guardian 
for the William Franklin heirs, for whom he drew pension money to the amount 
of $1,100. His luck continuing good, his grocery burnt down, and he received 
$1,500 of insurance. His borrowed money began pressing him and he sold out 
to his partner, W. 0. Smith, at a very good figure. If he had stopped here he 
would have had a good living remaining, but a man of the name of Foulke, of 



454 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

Kansas, sold him an old rattle-trap of a mill for $5,000, worth about that many 
cents. This stroke finished him, cleaned him up, and it is said that he is still 
following up the mill business, but in a second-hand way." 

The large grain elevator standing by the railroad was built in 1875-76 by 
F. R. Coffman. One had been built here in 1872, and burned a short time 
after, when this one was built in its place. It is now owned by Dr. Rutherford, 
and is an excellent building, well-appointed in every particular, with steam- 
power and with a capacity of 15,000 or 20,000 bushels of grain. It is 
standing idle at present. 

The Oakland National Bank was established in 1874, with L. S. Cash, Pres- 
ident, and John Rutherford, Cashier. The same officers still have charge of it, 
and are gentlemen of excellent business attainments, energy and enterprise. 

VILLAGE ORGANIZATION. 

The village of Oakland was incorporated years ago, but as the first records 
were not to be had we could not get the exact date, nor the names of the first 
Board of Trustees. The present Board is as follows, viz., William Henderson, 
M. W. Ammerman, J. W. Stokes, Frank Pleasant, J. R. Lawson and Merrill 
Hackett. William Henderson is President of the Board : W. M. Bowman, 
Village Clerk ; A. A. Dunseth, Police Magistrate, and John Tibbs, Town 
Marshal. 

The first church was organized by the Old-School Presbyterians in the year 
1831. They built a small log church on the siteof the " upper grave-yard," which 
afterward was turned into aschoolhouse. They next erected a frame building on the 
public square, 25x40 feet, but for lack of funds never finished it. It was finally 
abandoned, and, in 1844, their present church edifice was erected. Rev. Isaac 
Bennett was one of the first preachers. He was a native of Philadelphia, was edu- 
cated at Princeton and was a man of much intelligence and refinement. He 
was averse to noise, the cry of a child, when preaching, totally upset him. 
After his marriage, a "change came over the spirit of his dreams," and when 
two, three or four children had gathered about his knees, he was altogether 
another person, and could study his sermons better than ever and " preacli 
ricfht along in the stiffest kind of a squall." Rev. Mr. Montgomery was another 
preacher of this congi'egation ; also Rev. Mr. McDonald and Rev. Mr. Venable, 
of Paris. At present, there is no regular pastor. A good Sunday school is 
maintained, of which Mr. Eckard is Superintendent. 

The Cumberland Presbyterians organized a society in 1843, under the Rev. 
James Ashmore, a son of Amos Ashmore and a brother to the wife of Rev. Mr. 
Bennett. They have an elegant little frame church in the village and a flourish- 
ing society. Rev. J. P. Campbell is the present Pastor. R. G. Forsythe is 
Superintendent of the Sunday school connected with this Church. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized by Rev. Arthur Bradshaw 
in 1858. Their church was built soon after its organization. The society is 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 455 

large and flourishing, and is under the pastoral charge at present of Rev. 
Mr. Lacy. Of the Sunday school of the Church, N. P. Smith is Superin- 
tendent. 

The first school in Oakland was taught by Madison Ashmore, but the year 
is not now remembered. The first schoolhouse was a small frame building, which 
was used as a temple of learning until the building of the present large brick, 
some nine years ago. It is a spacious edifice, well designed for school purposes 
and cost about $7,000. Prof. Failing is Principal of the school at present ; 
Miss Lida Reel, Miss Kate Crawford and Miss Jessie Burr, teachers. 

Freemasonry and Odd Fellowship are well represented in Oakland. Oak- 
land Lodge No. 219, A., F. k A. M., was organized October 7, A. L. 5856, 

A. D. 1856. The first officers were Thomas J. Don Carlos, Master ; William 
D. Martin, Senior Warden ; Alfred D. Pemberton, Junior Warden ; John W. 
Kurtz, Treasurer ; Robert Mosely, Secretary. The present ofiicers are : H. 
D. Williams, Master ; E. H. Warden, Senior Warden : L. B. Crawford, Junior 
Warden ; L. S. Cash, Treasurer ; N. P. Smith, Secretary ; John Rutherford, 
Senior Deacon ; R. G. Forsythe, Junior Deacon, and John Menaugh, Tiler, 
with seventy members on the roll. 

Oakland Chapter, No. 153, Royal Arch Masons, was organized October 24, 
1872, with the following officers: A. P. Forsythe, High Priest ; S. M. Cash, 
King, and R. F. Larimer, Scribe. The present officers are : John Ruther- 
ford, High Priest; S. A. Reel, King ; R. F. Larimer, Scribe ; Jo. W. Clement, 
Captain of the Host ; D. H. Gordon, Principal Sojourner ; H. D. Williams, 
Royal Arch Captain ; L. B. Crawford, R. G. Forsythe, A. J. Taylor, Masters 
of the Veils ; L. S. Cash, Treasurer, and E. H. Warden, Secretary, with thirty 
members. 

Oakland Lodge, No. 1,192, Knights of Honor, was instituted September 5, 
1878, by Stanley Walker, D. D. Charter members: L. S. Cash, M. B. 
Valodin, W. C. Lacy, N. P. Smith, N. R. Moore, D. A. Rice, Rev. J. P. 
Campbell, William Henderson, Shep Florer, W. H. Glass, W. J. Peak, J. W. 
Turner, Lewis Kees, B. F. Smith, M. R. Williams, R. L. Burns, J. G. Hamil- 
ton and R. M. Young. The first officers were M. B. Valodin, D.; William 
Henderson, V. D.; L. S. Cash, Treasurer; D. A. Rice, R.; M. R. Williams, 
F. R.; N. P. Smith, D. and R. Present officers: William Henderson, D.; 

B. F. Smith, V. D.; L. S. Cash, Treasurer; N. P. Smith, R. ; M. R. 
Williams, F. R. 

Oakland Lodge No. 545, I. 0. 0. F., was instituted April 8, 1874. The 
charter members were A. A. Dunseth, A. M. Merrill, R. S. Smedley, J. P. 
Coons, James Stiles, of which A. A. .Dunseth was first Noble Grand ; A. M. 
Merrill, Vice Grand; and R. S. Smedly, Secretary, and A. A. Dunseth the first 
Representative. The present officers are : D. A. Rice, Noble Grand ; R. 
Gomel, Vice Grand ; William M. Bowman, Secretary, and N. P. Smith, 
Deputy Representative. 



456 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

Welcome Encampment, No. 24, I. 0. 0. F., organized January 5, 1876. 
It is the old No. 24, of Charleston, which surrendered its charter during the 
war, and hence lost its number. The first officers were : J. G. Crawford, 
C. P.; S. M. Cash, H. P.; J. A. Johnson, S. W.; J. C. Bandy, J. W.; N. P. 
Smith, Scribe. The present officers are Robert Rutherford, C. P., and N. P. 
Smith, Scribe, with twelve members. 

The first newspaper in Oakland was the Herald, and was established by J. 
AV. Crane in 1875. It is at present owned by S. A. Reel & Co., with Rev. J. 
P. Campbell as editor. It is an eight-page paper, presents a fine appearance, 
and is one of the spiciest sheets in the county. The Oakland Ledger is a small 
paper, recently established in the village, and is an interesting little journal. 

Oakland comprises some fifteen or twenty stores of all classes, including 
dry goods, grocery stores, hardware stores, furniture stores, etc., also a full 
line of shops of all kinds, blacksmith, wagon-makers, harness-makers, etc., etc. 
It has two good hotels, three churches, one excellent schoolhouse, two steam- 
mills, one grain elevator, a railroad and depot, and its full share of professional 
men. 

The village has two cemeteries ; one is some distance from the village, in a 
northeast direction, and was laid out before the village. Many of the old 
settlers and pioneers sleep in the " upper grave-yard," as this burying-ground is 
called. The other is nearer the village, and was laid out in 1855. It is a 
pretty little cemetery, and is well beautified and adorned with trees and shrubbery. 

In conclusion of this chapter, we would say that Oakland is a model little 
village, with the most favorable prospects for a bright future. Though' in early 
days it had the name of being a rough place, with some rough characters in it. 
yet education and civilization have done their work, and a more refined little 
city cannot be found in this or surrounding counties. 

MORGAN TOWNSHIP. 

" In the mountain scenery yet, 

All we iidore of Nature in her wild 
And frolic hour of infancy is met; 

And never has a summer's morning smiled 
Upon a lovelier scene than the full eye 
Of the enthusiast revels on — when high 
Amid thy forest solitudes he climbs 

O'er crags that proudly tower above the deep, 
And knows that sense of danger which sublimes 

The breathless moment — when his daring step 
Is on the verge of the cliff, and he can hear 
The low dash of the waves with startled ear." — ffalleek. 

In this little narrow strip of earth, small and irregular in shape, known as 
Morgan Township, are represented the two extremes of nature, as it were — the 
beautiful level prairies and the wild broken country bordering the Embarrass 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 457 

River. The latter, before the advent of the " pale-face " marred its virgin 
beauty, was covered with primeval forests, and to the west the prairies stretched 
away in nature's waving meadows. Upon the brakes and hills and bluffs rising 
from the river grew giant trees, which for centuries had defied the fury of the 
tempest. . ,„, , ,• • 

^ '* I he century living crow, 

Whose birth w.as in their tops, grew old and died 
Among their branches," 

and still they had flourished in all their glory for years and ages. Giant oaks, 
spreading elms, towering walnuts, waving cottonwoods, with their trembling 
leaves, and many other magnificent forest-trees grew here in almost endless pro- 
fusion. And beyond, as the ocean extends out from the beach, which limits it, 
extended the prairies, clothed in all the beauty of nature. Such was the aspect 
of the section of country to which this chapter is devoted when the pale-face 
came with all his bustling enterprise and proceeded, literally, to turn things 
topsy-turvy. 

Morgan Township lies in the north, or rather in the northeast, part of the 
county, and is bounded north, by Douglas County ; west, by Seven Hickory 
Township ; south, by Charleston, and east, by the Embarrass River. Through the 
north part of the town fiows the classic stream known as " Greasy Creek," which, 
together with the origin of the name, is referred to in the county history. A 
little south of Greasy Creek is Dry Branch, another little stream flowing into 
the Embarrass. As before fJtated, this township contains both timber and prairie, 
and is pretty equally divided between the two ; the timber-land lying adjacent 
to the Embarrass River, and the prairies next to Seven Hickory Township. 
Morgan is a fractional town, containing about twenty-four or twenty-five sections 
of land — two-thirds of a regular Congressional township. It has neither vil- 
lages nor railroads, but the Indianapolis & St. Louis and the Illinois Midland 
Railroads pass near enough to be of considerable benefit to it in transporting its 
surplus grain and stock. 

"^ *= SETTLEMENT. 

The first white settlers in Morgan Township are supposed to have been John 
Caldwell and his son, who bore the same name, and John Kennedy. They 
came from Fayette County, Ky., near the city of Lexington, and settled in the 
timbered portion of the township in 1830-31. The Caldwells lived hereabout 
twenty years, when they removed to Edgar County, where the elder died several 
years ago, but his son is 'still living in that county. This is about all that is 
known of the Caldwells at the present day. Kennedy remained but a short 
time, and moved back to Kentucky, where he resided several years, when he 
returned to Illinois, and died a few years ago in the city of Charleston. 

Aaron Collins is another of the early settlers of Morgan Township, and is 
supposed by some to have settled here previous to the Caldwells and Kennedy, 
but after this long lapse of years it is hard to say which of these families was 
the first to pitch their tents in this section. Collins came from North Carolina 



458 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

in 1830-31, and built the house where his son-in-law, Reese McAllister now 
lives. He has been dead a number of yeara, but a son, Aaron Collins, Jr., still 
lives in the township. 

Daniel R. and David R. McAllister, the latter usually called Reese McAl- 
lister, came to Morgan Township in 1833. They were from Indiana here, but 
were originally from Alabama. When moving to this place, they stopped in 
Ashmore Township, where they remained from spring until fall, when they 
removed to this township. Reese has resided here ever since, upon the place 
where his father-in-law, Aaron Collins, first settled, and Daniel, to the time of 
his death, which took place in 1871. John Skidmore came from Indiana to 
this settlement in 1831-32. He lived here in quiet until the breaking-out of 
the gold fever, when he started for California, but died on the way, and never 
reached the land of gold. Gibson Gastin came also from Indiana about the 
same time Skidmore came, and after remaining in the neighborhood a number 
of years, removed to Texas, since which time all trace of him is lost. 

David Morgan, for whom the township was named, settled near what was 
called Greasy Point, April 20, 1834. He was originally from Washington 
County, Ky., near Springfield, the county seat, but removed to Vermilion 
County, Ind., where he remained several years before coming to this neighbor- 
hood. He was a prominent man in the community, and the first Justice of the 
Peace. He died in 1860, but has two sons, William and James Morgan, still 
living in the township, splendid representatives of the honest old pioneer, who 
has passed away. The latter still lives on the old homestead, where his father 
settled nearly half a century ago. Benjamin Clarke came from Kentucky about 
1830-31, and died here several years ago. His wife is still living, and is the 
only one of the early pioneers who came here a grown-up person that survives. 
A son, Jackson Clarke, and several married daughters, live in the township 
still, and another son lives in Kansas. 

Gowin Adkins, and Abraham Adkins, a cousin, settled in the town in 
1833-34. The father of the latter came with him, and was of the same name. 
They are all dead ; Gowin died many years ago, but had a son and daughter. 
The former went into the army during the late war, anddied while in the service 
of his country. Moses GoUiday came from Pennsylvania, and settled in the 
township a year or two before the Adkinses. He bought out Caldwell ; David, 
a brother, came about tlie same time, and both he and Moses are dead. John 
Golliday, another brother, is still living. 

Isaac Craig, an esteemed citizen of Charleston Township, was an early set- 
tler of Morgan. He came here in 1835. He was originally from Kentucky, 
and came to Illinois with his father in 1828, first settling in Clark County. 
Isaac Craig remained a resident of Morgan Township about twenty years, and 
then removed to Edgar County, where he resided for fourteen years, and then 
removed to Charleston, where he still lives, just north of the city. He was in 
the Black Hawk war — volunteered in one of the Clark County companies, but 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 459 

having friends in Edgar County, got a transfer to Captain Brimberry's company 
of Edgar County. An early settler of the name of Johnson, located on the 
creek, but he was a '"bird of passage," and did not remain long, hence not 
much is known of him. 

The Chastenes were rather noted characters in this settlement, in an early 
day. Mr. Morgan bought a claim from one of them (there were two of them, 
Jesse and William Chastene), upon which there was a cabin, and twenty-five 
apple-trees which the old fellow had planted out. Mr. Morgan closed up the 
trade, and went to Palestine and formally entered the land. He then went to 
his home in Indiana, to move his family here, and when he arrived, old Chas- 
tene had dug up every apple-tree and carried them off to some new claim. These 
Chastenes are the amateur pork-packers alluded to in the general county his- 
tory, and from whose questionable operations the little stream of Greasy Creek 
obtained its classic name. 

Alexander Montgomery came from Indiana to this township. He was 
originally from Alabama, and was a brother-in-law to the McAllisters, and 
settled here the fall after tiiey came to the town. He died here years ago. 
These are all of the earliest settlers in Morgan Township. Next is rather a later 
era, and includes such as John Winkelblack, Daniel Beck, Thomas West, Irwin 
Digby, Cooper Wallace, Y. E. Winkler. Winkelblack and Beck came from Vir- 
ginia ; the latter is dead, but Winkelblack is still living. Thomas West was 
from Vermilion County, Ind., and came some years after the Morgans. He 
now lives in Douglas County. Digby came from the same section, and still 
lives in Morgan Township. So, also, was Wallace from Vermilion County, Ind., 
and his father, now living in Douglas County, was originally from Kentucky. 
Cooper Wallace has been dead a number of years. Winkler came from Indi- 
ana, but was originally from Kentucky also. He is still living. This con- 
cludes the list of the early settlers, so far as could be obtained. 

GENERAL FEATURES. 

When the first white people came to Morgan Township, there were plenty of 
Indians in this section. They once had a camp not far from where Reese 
McAllister now lives, and there are traces of it still to be seen there. The like- 
ness of a man cut in the bark of a tree is still visible, though it shows every 
appearance of having been executed years and years ago. Many places have 
been noticed in this immediate neighborhood, supposed to be Indian graves, 
though, so far as we could learn, none of them have ever been examined to see 
whether they contain anything like human skeletons. A year or two ago, Henry 
Curtis, a son of Samuel Curtis, was one day " digging fish-bait," and dug up 
a human skull, and, upon examination, a few other bones were found, and rocks 
were laid in order, as though intended to form a rude sort of covering, ere the 
dirt was put on the corpse. But whether this was an Indian, or some lone 
white man, who had been murdered* in this wild spot, will probably never be 

* The skull had a hole in the back part of it, resembling a buUet-bule. 



460 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

known. But the evidence was pretty strong that it was a human being, either 
■white, red or black, and had been carefully buried there, near the banks of the 
Embarrass River. 

But, although Indians were plenty here when the whites first came, they were 
not at all troublesome, but were quite friendly toward the white people. They would 
furnish them with game, and hence proved of some benefit, at least. But long 
years have passed since the wild yell of the savage disturbed the echoes of this 
little community. But few are still left that can remember them as residents 
of Morgan, and soon, " Lo I the poor Indian!" will live only in fireside 
tales. 

Wolves and panthers, with occasionally a bear, inhabited this country forty or 
fifty years ago, and snakes were a spontaneous growth. Rattlesnakes were also 
very plenty. Mr. Morgan and his sons killed ninety rattlesnakes in one sum- 
mer, on a ten-acre lot, and it was not a good season for rattlesnakes, either. 
Wolf-hunts were common, and their scalps commanded a bounty. A number 
of neighbors would band together, with dogs and guns, and the havoc made 
among the hateful little pests would sometimes be terrific. A man could pay his 
taxes in scalps, and, if he had an overplus, could pass them over to the Treas- 
urer and get a county order for the balance due him. 

We don't know whether the same custom prevailed here, or in Coles County, 
during the circulation of wolf-scalps as currency, that we have heard of in 
another section of the State, viz., that a man could go into a "grocery "' and 
get a glass of whisky, throw down a wolf-scalp, and the grocery-keeper would 
give him back a coon-skin, or two opossum-skins, in change. But prairie 
wolves, like the poor savage, have gone West to grow up with the country and 
the grasshoppers. 

The winter of the deep snow is remembered by the few old settlers still liv- 
ing in this part of the country. Though this fall of snow was ^ut little over 
half as deep in this latitude as in the northern part of the State, yet it is 
acknowledged as the deepest ever witnessed here. It fell in December, 1830, 
and remained on the ground until the next March. Here it was only about 
two feet deep, but in the northern part of Illinois it was four feet on the level 
prairies. It was a hard time on stock, and on people, too, in a newly-settled 
country. Many wild beasts died from starvation while it lasted, and domestic 
animals had nearly as hard a time here, for, at that early day, the few people 
then in Coles County iiad not been in it long enough to have a surplus of hay 
and corn. 

As a sample of the hard times the pioneers iiad to undergo, Mr. Morgan 
informed us that he had known thousands of bushels of corn to sell at 8 cents 
a bushel, an excellent cow and calf for $8, good horses for $40, and wheat from 
25 cents to 37 J cents a bushel. And, for years, the prices ranged at these 
figures, and, even then, it was almost impossible to get money for anything one 
had to sell, for there was but little of that commodity in the country. 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 461 

But these hard times are all past now, and Morgan Township is, to-day, as 
prosperous a community as one will find in Coles County. True, we still find 
a few of the primitive log cabins of the earlier days, but they are not used as a 
matter of necessity, but from choice. They have become endeared to their 
owners, and are cherished as sweet mementos of the past. As a rule, Morgan 
Township has excellent residences, well-improved farms, good roads, and, 
indeed, everything to indicate a prosperous community. 

BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES. 

Who was the first person born in Morgan Township is not now remem- 
bered. The first death is supposed to have been the wife of Aaron Collins, 
who died in the early days of the settlement of Morgan, or Greasy Creek, as 
the settlement was called. A child of Jefferson Florer was the first party 
buried in the tireasy Point Cemetery, near where James Morgan lives. This 
is one of the prettiest little burying-grounds we have noticed in the county. 
Located on high ground, and kept in excellent order, with many pretty marble 
slabs and some quite elegant monuments, it is, altogether, a lovely place. 

The first marriage in the neighborhood was Clara Collins and Thomas 
Creighton, and they were married by David Morgan, a Justice of the Peace. 
The population of the township shows that the good old custom, begun thus 
early, has been kept up, and that there has been " marrying and giving in 
marriage," since this first couple stepped off the shores of single blessedness. 

Morgan Township has never had any mills, except one or two portable saw- 
mills in the timbered sections along the Embarrass River ; one of these, how- 
ever, we believe, once added a set of buhrs for grinding corn. Mr. James Morgan 
says that, when his father first settled in the township, they used to go to the 
Wabash, and to Decatur, to mill ; that two or three neighbors would join 
together, and, hitching three or four yoke of oxen to a wagon, would start off 
to mill, and sometimes be absent a week or ten days. Milling is now done at 
Oakland and Charleston, and sometimes at mills in Douglas County. 

There was no blacksnii;h-shop in Morgan Township at a sufficiently early 
day to be made a matter of history. That useful trade is pretty well repre- 
sented at the present day, however, and shops are to be found in every neigh- 
borhood. In the early day, the blacksmithing was done by the workmen in the 
Oakland settlement. 

David Morgan was the first Justice of the Peace in Morgan Township, and 
when the county adopted township organization, Nathan Thomas was elected 
the first Supervisor, and was succeeded the next year by John Winkleblack. 
The present Supervisor is J. B. Williams ; J. L. Rardin and Jesse Hudson, 
Justices of the Peace. 

SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES. 

The first schoolhouse was built in Morgan Township about 1839—10, but 
who taught the first school in it cannot be told at this late day. There were 



462 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

schools in the settlement, however, before this house was built, but until it was 
erected, the settlers cabins were utilized as temples of learning. And as this 
is but a fractional town, it has but three schoolhouses within its limits, viz., 
Winkelblack's, Hazel Dell and California Schoolhouses. This results from the 
fact that many of the school districts are partnership districts with Seven 
Hickory Township, and with Sargent Township, in Douglas County. A 
strong effort is being made to get a new district in the northeast part of the 
township, a move that it seems should terminate successfully, for there is cer- 
tainly abundant territory and population for a district and a house in this 
section. 

There are two church edifices in the township. The first sermon preached, 
was by the Methodists. The Revs. Fox and McCane were early in the field, 
but, we believe, never established a permanent society. The first Cumberland 
Presbyterian ministers were Revs. James Ashmore and Hill. The Cumber- 
land Presbyterian Union Church is located in the north part of the town, and 
was built in 1856-57. The society was organized in May, 1842, by Rev. 
James Ashmore, at the house of David Morgan. Preaching was held at the 
house of Mr. Morgan and at Aaron Collins', until the church was built. The 
present membership is 110, under the pastorate of Rev. J. P. Campbell. A 
Sunday school is maintained during the summer season, with an average 
attendance (last summer) of sixty-three children, under the superintendence of 
James Morgan, who is, also. Clerk of the Church Session. 

There is also a Cumberland Presbyterian organization at the California 
Schoolhouse, but they have no regular preaching at the present time, although 
the organization is still kept up, also a Sunday school during the summer 
season. 

Salem Missionary Baptist Church is in the extreme southern part of the 
town. It is a substantial frame building, and was put up about fifteen years 
ago, at a cost of $1,000. Rev. Mr. Thornton is the Pastor, and has a flourish- 
ing congregation for a country church. A Sunday school is carried on during 
the summer season. 

Our readers will notice on some of the old maps a little place in Morgan 
Township called Curtisville. Notwithstanding its dignified name, it was never 
much of a village. A small store, a blacksmith-shop, with a " neighborhood " 
post office, comprised all of Curtisville. The store was kept by a man named 
Cutler Mitchell, and the post office was simply an office for the convenience of 
the neighbors, and whoever went to town brought out the mail-bag. It was 
not a regular ofiice, nor was the mail brought regularly, but as it suited the 
convenience of some one who had other business at town. 

Rardin Post Office is much the same kind of a place that Curtisville once 
was. We say once was, for what little there was of the place, has passed 
away, and there is nothing left to tell where it once stood but a dwelling and a 
blacksmith-shop. Rardin is on Section 4, and consists of a small store and a 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 463 

blacksmith-shop, together with a post office. Samuel Rardin keeps both the 
post office and the store. This little place and Curtisville, are the nearest that 
this neighborhood has ever approached to liaving a village in its midst. 

Morgan Township is Democratic in politics ; in fact, it may be termed a 
Democratic stronghold. It has always been Democratic, from the earliest 
period of its existence to the present day. During the late war, Morgan did 
its part nobly, filling every call without a draft. But after all these years, it is 
impossible to obtain the names of those who participated in the long and san- 
guinary struggle. We shall not attempt to do so, but pass from the subject 
with a well-merited tribute to their bravery. 

This township contains but little of special interest to the historian. With- 
out villages, towns or cities, railroads, mills or manufactories, there is but little 
to write about, after the settlement of the town is described, unless we go off 
into a panegyric on its honest, honorable and upright citizens. This, however, 
is not our purpose, as the duty of an historian is to deal in facts, and not in 
fulsome flattery of persons or things. And thus we close our chapter on Mor- 
gan Township, with the statement that it is one of the most prosperous in this 
county, and is inhabited by people who " move on in the even tenor of their 
way,'' quietly attending to their own business, and not meddling with that of 
others. 

SEVEN HICKORY TOWNSHIP. 

This is one of the largest townships in the county. It is six sections wide 
from east to west, and is nine sections long. It contains, therefore, 54 sec- 
tions, or 34.560 acres, none of which is waste land. With the exception of 
one or two groves, of which mention will be made hereafter, the entire town- 
ship is prairie. It is, therefore, slightly undulating in its surface, and possesses 
an unusually rich, productive soil. Taking the township as a whole, there is 
not a finer body of land in the county. The surface is sufficiently undulating 
to admit of drainage, and the soil of sufficient depth to preclude its wear- 
ing out. 

The only streams of water to be found are Greasy Creek, in the northeast 
part ; the head of Flat Branch, in the northwest, and Cossel and a branch of 
Riley Creek, in the southwest. None of these flow through the township, but all 
head in it, and leave the town from three different directions. This fact estab- 
lishes another, viz. : tliat the central part is high land, and sloping in all direc- 
tions. The town, compared to others, is new, having been almost entirely 
unsettled until after completion of the Illinois Central Railroad, in whose grant 
of land it lay. The township took its name from a remarkable grove of 
hickory-trees situated toward the southwest part. This grove is said to have 
originally consisted of seven immense trees, standing alone in their grandeur, 
monarchs of all they surveyed. Tradition has it, too, that they were a prom- 
inent landmark in early days ; and, further back than the time of the white 



a 



464 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTT. 

man's rule here, they were the shrine and camping-place of the aboriginal sons 
of the forest. Early emigrants going across this part of the State found them 
rising before them as monitors pointing out the country before them. Earlier 
than the emigrants were the surveyors, who came over this section of Illinois 
when yet a Territory, and who marked the grove on the plats they made of the 
country. Before them were the scouts and hunters, forerunners of a civiliza- 
tion destined, one day, to supplant the red men. These adventurers found the 
grove composed of the curious number of hickories, and note it in their annals 
of the country. From their size when seen by settlers about 1824 or 1825, 
they must have been more than a century old, and if so, were here when the 
country was captured from the British by Col. George R. Clark, 100 years ago. 

Another small grove, known as Anderson's Grove, exists in another part of 
the township. It is, however, quite small, and has never yielded trees above a 
mediocre height and size, or of a quality suitable for building purposes. A 
curious growth of sassafras-trees has sprung up on the farm of Jesse O'Hair 
since he settled there. He says he cannot account for the trees, as he knows 
of no one planting any roots of that tree, or dropping any seed. He supposes 
the growth came from seeds dropped by birds, or roots left by Indians or trav- 
elers. At any rate, the trees have come up in the last quarter-century, and are 
of a good size. Mr. O'Hair has them fenced about, and uses the grove for a 
shade for stock. He is quite proud of its existence, and counts it a valuable 
adjunct on his farm. 

Aside from what has been mentioned as timber-land, the entire town is 
prairie. When the first settlers came to the county, they found it a trackless, 
almost treeless, plain, variegated with here and there a small grove or a single 
shrub. It was covered with a luxuriant growth of grass, waving in the prairie 
breezes, the home of the wolf, deer and buffalo. Void of life, save in its sav- 
age state, it indeed fulfilled the description of Irving, whose matchless essay on 
the prairies stands uneijualed. These wastes are now the homes of plenty, 
and, under the hand and influence of civilization, are the finest parts of the 
county. 

During the interval between the settlement of the timbered parts of the 
county and the open portions, the prairies were the scenes of many exciting 
wolf and deer hunts. The former animals were a foe to young pigs and poul- 
try, even after settlers came out here to live. They ravaged hen-roosts with 
brazen impunity, often in broad day, but more commonly at night. They also 
evidenced a desire for fresh, tender pork, and depopulated pig-sties with as much 
effrontery as they did hen-roosts. To exterminate them, grand hunts were organ- 
ized. A company of men, sometimes over a hundred in number, mounted on horses, 
followed by all the dogs and boys who could come, surrounded a certain portion 
of country, often quite extensive, and gradually closing in the circle, drove all 
before them. In early times, they would have sometimes a dozen wolves and 
as many deer in the doomed circle. When the line had been properly closed, 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 465 

a fire from guns and pistols was opened on the animals, care being taken not 
to shoot over a certain level. The real fun began when two or three ventur- 
some wolves broke the lines and made tracks for liberty and life. Then no 
shooting was allowed. They must run down the wolf, and that meant a trial 
of speed and mettle. An ordinary wolf would outrun nine horses out of ten 
in an even race, and but few dogs could hope to catch him. The exhilarating 
sport — the spectacle of numbers of horses galloping across the plain in full 
tilt, after a wolf — gave spirit and vim to the participants, and made the day not 
easily forgotten. Deer-hunts were conducted by parties only, who depended 
on their skill as hunters to capture them, and not on the speed of horses or the 
excitement of a day's sport. As the country filled with settlers, these pas- 
times gradually died out, as the game disappeared, until now they are a thing 
of the past. 

The prairie is now covered with cattle and fields of grain, and in place of 
the wild beasts and wild men who once made it their home, the white man finds 
opulence and ease as a reward for his labor. 

SETTLEMENT. 

No permanent settlement seems to have been made here until about 1850. 
Before that date, as far as we have been able to learn, what few persons came 
into the bounds of this town came here to herd cattle, and do not seem to have 
made any permanent residence. The prairie portions of the country were used 
for this purpose long after the settlers came, they preferring rather to pasture 
than to cultivate it. About the time of which we speak, however, the atten- 
tion of emigrants was more particularly directed to this part of the West, as it 
was found the prairies could be more easily cultivated, when once broken, than 
the timber-lands. The soil was free from roots and stubs, and more product- 
ive. Hence, plows adapted to the turning of the prairie sod began to appear, 
and farms were entered where not a tree stood. 

Samuel and John Rosebraugh settled in the southwest part of this town- 
ship in 1850 or 1851, and with William and Jack Coons, Abner Brown, Benja- 
min McNeal and Milo Mitchell, may be considered the pioneers of this part of 
the county, if we may rightly call settlers of that date pioneers. These fami- 
lies, with a few others, came here, opened farms, erected houses and began life 
— not in log cabins, but in houses that mark the second era in this country. 
They built frame dwellings because these were cheaper than any other then, and 
because there was no timber near them from which to get logs to build cabins. 
They, therefore, did not experience the vicissitudes of a pure pioneer life here. 
The country was then emerging from an era of hard times and coming to a basis 
of real prosperity. Railroads were in operation in the Eastern and Middle 
States, and had even superseded the river travel as far west as Illinois. At Chi- 
cago, now the metropolis of the West, one railroad was in operation, and was 
earnestly extending its lines westward. Charters were being granted to other 



466 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

roads, which were now actively engaged in opening the country. The agitation 
regarding the construction of the Illinois Central Railroad was claiming the 
attention of the people and their Repi'esentatives in Congress. The agitation 
culminated in 1852 in the immense grant of land given to that road. Its his- 
tory is presented elsewhere in these pages, and to it the reader is referred. 
Suffice it to say, as soon as the route was determined, the country through whicli 
it passed settled as if by magic. The lands embraced in the grant extended 
into Seven' Hickory^Township, and as soon as they were thrown upon the market, 
were rapidly taken up. Mr. Jesse O'Hair says that when he came here, in 
1854, he does not think there were over a dozen voters in the entire precinct, 
and these were nearly all in the southern part. He remembers the families we 
have mentioned, but thinks there were very few others. Those who were here 
as herders of cattle, lived elsewhere, and could not be counted as residents. 
They all went to Charleston to vote and for all their trading. When the land 
came under the control of the Illinois Central road, being partly in their grant, 
and buyers finding out its exceeding richness, it did not wait long for purchasers. 
Mr. O'Hair says to attempt to tell individually who came in from 1854 to 1859, 
the year the township was created, would be to enumerate about one hundred 
families. From this, it will be seen how rapidly the country was taken up — 
twelve or fifteen voters in 1853 and 1854, nearly one hundred in 1859. That 
tells the story of its settlement. W. E. Adams says that in 1855, he went to 
the north part of the township to see after some cattle, and found the farm of 
J. E. Wyche, fenced, in a measure, and occupied by a tenant. Judge Adams 
says it was the farthest farm north in the township, and was somewhat isolated, 
being out alone on the prairie. It was used for a stock farm. He was back 
there four or five years after, and the prairie was " full of homes." P^ach one 
who c£<me erected frame houses, and began on a farm all prairie. Hence their 
beginning was entirely different from any who began life in the forests. Here 
no cabins were built ; no hunts for bee-trees and game in the woods occurred ; 
none of the elements of a life on the pioneer plan, as commonly experienced in 
this part of Illinois, are found. We will, therefore, not go into a needless repe- 
tition of the life of the first settlers here. It is given in the biographical part 
of this book more fully than we can hope to gather it, and to that part of the 
narrative we would refer the reader. The people came after the railroads were 
opened, thus avoiding the long journey of those that preceded them. Before 
they were completed through this county, emigrants came to Terre Haute by 
way of the railroads, and from thence to their destination in their wagons. 

After the creation of townships, in 1859, the voting-place was made at what 
was termed the Nicholas Schoolhouse, where it was continued until the Center 
Schoolhouse was erected, when that place was made the polling-place, and is 
now used. 

Before leaving the history of the township, we will note an event, occurring 
in 1864, viz., an unusually severe wind and storm. It is referred to in tlie 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 467 

history of Mattoon, where it did much damage. There it scattered fences, tore 
down trees, unroofed and blew down buildings, in one case carrying the house 
clear off the floor, leaving the family — Benjamin Tiff's — on the floor without 
any protection. Where it went through the woods, it made a "clean sweep," 
taking down everything in its way. Several persons were injured, and some 
stock killed. Within the memory of the "oldest inhabitant," it is the severest 
windstorm that ever visited this I'egion. 

SCHOOLS. 

Just as soon as a sufficient number of persons were found in the township 
to warrant the erection of a schoolhouse, one was built in the southwestern part. 
This was about the year 1855, some assert a year later. It was a neat, frame 
building, and accommodated, at first, a large extent of territory. About a 
year after it was completed, the rapid influx of settlers commenced, and, within 
a year's time, several houses were erected. School was opened under the free- 
school system, that having been established over ten years. No subscription- 
schools, supported entirely in that manner, were ever taught here. As the 
lands in this township always brought an excellent price, the sale of the 16th 
Section brought the township a good school-fund, as will be observed in the sta- 
tistics we present. The township supports excellent schools now, and, as the 
excellent character of the people attests, they are repaid for the outlay. The sta- 
tistics to which reference is made are from tlie oflice of the County Superin- 
tendent of Schools, and are as follows : 

Number of school chilili-en, males 247 

Number of school children, females 202 

Total 449 

Number of schools 13 

Average wages, males §44 79 

Average wages, females 28 10 

Length of school-term, six months 

Value of school property $.5,800 00 

Principal of Township Fund 3,847 00 

From the foregoing table, it is evident the population of the township is 
nearly two thousand, an excellent growth in less than thirty years' time. 

CHURCHES. 

There are only two churches in Seven Hickory Township, though a few are 
just over its border in other townships, in whose histories they are noticed. 
The two to which reference is made are the Methodist and Christian Churches. 
The first of these, the Olive Branch Church, was organized about 1865 or 1866, 
possibly earlier, and, for a time, like all early churches, held services in the 
members' houses. Afterward, the schoolhouses were used. In 1869, a very 
comfortable frame church was erected, which is yet occupied. Rev. Wallace 
was among the ministers here about this time, and was one of the active par- 
ticipants in its erection and dedication. The congregation is now in a good 

p 



468 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

condition every way, and supports regular services. Its rapid growth is attrib- 
uted, mainly, to the sudden settling of the township, and to one or two pros- 
perous meetings. 

The Christian Church, known as the Rural Retreat Church, began by hold- 
ing services in persons' houses, who were professors of this creed. Soon, a 
start was made, a congregation established, and the meetings transferred to 
the schoolhouses. As the growth, at first, was somewhat slow, no house of 
worship was erected till 1865 and 1866. The membership is now about fifty. 
The first preacher here was Rev. Jesse Campbell, whose successors were Joseph 
Hosteetler and Nathan Wright, the present Pastor, who now lives in Paris. 

A BIT OF RAILROAD HISTORY. 

A few years after the close of the late war, the people of this township, like 
many others, concluded a railroad, running north and south through their ter- 
ritory, would be a good thing in many ways, and, finding a desire existing in 
Charleston for a northern and southern outlet, concluded to levy bonds to aid 
in its construction. Charleston had a watchful eye on the county seat, which 
Mattoon was zealously trying to get, and saw in the proposed road a fine oppor- 
tunity to secure that necessary part of her existence. The bonds were voted 
for, to run a series of years, to bear a good rate of interest, and for them the 
township was to have a railroad running southward from Tuscola, through 
Charleston, to some good point. After the project had gotten well under way, 
and, we believe, a little work had been done on the proposed route, it was 
noticed by a large part of the citizens in the south part of the township that 
the road would be better for all were it changed and run to Danville. The 
people of Charleston concurred fully in this idea, as it was undoubtedly better 
for them. It gave them an eastern outlet then, as well as a northern one, and 
brought them more directly in communication with the coal-fields. The route 
was changed, then, to go north a little over half-way through the township, 
then bear northeasterly and proceed as directly to Danville as the nature of the 
country would allow. No sooner was this broached, however, than the people 
in the northern part of the township raised a remonstrance to such a proceeding. 
They did not care to be taxed to support a road that did not come directly to 
them, and prepared to contest the payment of the bonds. The upshot of the 
whole matter was, the case was taken into court, where it now rests Mean- 
while, work and all preparations on the road have stopped. The people of 
Charleston are confident it will be yet resumed, and that one day the railroad will 
be built. Should the change of route invalidate the bonds, others can be 
raised, say they, and as the road would be of great advantage to the county 
seat, strenuous efforts will be made to complete it. 

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS. 

Although no town has ever been started in this township, it can boast of a 
store and a blacksmith-shop. The former was started by John Mason, about 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 469 

eight years ago, who saw an opportunity to enrich his exchequer and do some 
good for his neighbors. He has a very good country store, filled with all sorts 
of goods wanted by the farmers. His stock is decidedly miscellaneous in char- 
acter, as all such stores are apt to be, as a miscellaneous taste and want are to be 
satisfied. He carries on a system of exchange, also, getting the products of 
the farmers, and selling them in Charleston to produce-dealers. 

The blacksmith-shop is run by J. H. Davidson, and is said to be a good one. 
It. like the store, saves farmers coming several miles to the county seat for ''odd 
jobs ; " and, as there are a good many "odd jobs," and as Mr. Davidson makes 
wagons, he has plenty to do. 

These two employments are the only ones pursued in the township, outside 
of farming. The country is pre-eminently an agricultural one, and, as cattle 
and hogs are the main staple, corn is the principal cereal grown. Could a 
turnpike-road be built through the township to Charleston, it would be an 
excellent investment, as many products could be brought there that the farmers 
are obliged to forego or wait till good roads come. Some talk of utilizing 
criminals, confined in the Jail waiting trial, on the construction of such a road 
is heard. It would not only keep them, but would benefit the country. 



HUMBOLT TOWNSHIP. 

This township, located in the northern tier, and second in order from the 
western boundary of the county, is bounded on the nortli by Douglas County, 
and on the east, south and west respectively by Seven Hickory, La Fayette 
and North Okaw Townships. In its extent, it embraces one and one-half town- 
ships, being nine miles north and south by six miles east and west. When 
Douglas County was, by act of legislation, called into existence, its southern 
boundary was located in such a position as to give to the northern tier of town- 
ships in Coles County an extra half-township, and this accounts for the some- 
what irregular .shape of Humbolt and the other northern townships. Like 
many of the adjacent townships, its surface is almost wholly composed of open 
prairie. Along the western boundary are found the outskirts of the Okaw tim- 
ber ; a very little timber is found marking the course of the Flat Branch, a 
small stream traversing the township from east to west. Add to this a small 
grove on Section 10, a little southeast of the village of Humbolt, and we have 
the entire timbered area of the township, leaving fully nine-tenths of its surface 
prairie. Taken throughout its whole extent, the surface of the township is not 
sufficiently high and broken to be termed rolling ; nor yet is it so low as to 
be properly designated flat ; perhaps, gently undulating would best describe it. 
Humbolt is exclusively an agricultural district. It contains no cities, and but 
a single village, that of Humbolt. The soil is a deep black loam, such as is 
common to much of the prairie regions of our great and growing State. It 
extends to a great depth, and yields an abundant harvest of the various grains 



470 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

adapted to the climate. Corn is the staple product, though wheat, oats and 
barley yield well. Flat Branch, a small stream rising in the northwestern 
corner of Seven Hickory Township, and flowing in a general western direction, 
crosses the northern half of Humbolt, and, with its tributaries from the north 
and south, aflbrds an outlet for the northern and central portions of the town- 
ship, through which their surplus waters are discharged. The southwestern 
portion of the township is rather flat, but has sufficient fall to admit of drainage, 
and, by means of open ditching and underground tiling, extensively employed in 
the past few years, many broad and fertile acres heretofore left uncultivated 
have been reduced to a high state of cultivation. These low lands, when 
effectually drained, are richer and more productive than the higher lands in the 
immediate vicinity. The Chicago Branch of the Illinois Central Railroad 
enters the township near the middle of its northern boundary. It passes almost 
directly south to the village of Humbolt, on Section 4, at which point it bears 
to the west, and, taking a general southwestern direction, leaves the township 
near the western boundary of Section 31, making about twelve miles of railroad 
in the limits of the township. After the organization of the township, various 
names were proposed, among others, that of " Blue-Grass Grove." This was 
objected to on account of its length. The name "Flat Branch" was suggested, 
but was deemed objectionable in that it might give to strangers and those desir- 
ing to settle in the township incorrect views of the elevation of the land. 
Finally, A. A. Sutherland, who figures somewhat prominently in the village 
history, and who was a great admirer of the eminent German scientist and 
traveler. Baron Friederich Heinrich Alexander von Humboldt, offered the 
name by which the township is now known and designated. This proved 
acceptable to all, and was so recorded. How or why the "d" was dropped in 
the spelling of the word " Humbolt," as applied to the township, we are at a 
loss to say. Perhaps it was simply in order to Americanize the word, or, 
possibly, to correspond with the energy and push of this Western country, as in 
its shortened form it would be more easily written and less difficult in 
orthography. The wealth of the township consists in its many well-improved 
farms, its broad acres of arable and pasture lands. Its annual productions, 
under favorable circumstances, rank second to but few in the county. Passing 
from the topography of the township, we next enter, upon tiiat period of its 
history pertaining to its 

• "^ * EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 

These, when compared with the first settlements made in other portions of 
the county, are of recent date. Few settlers, if any, had located in the pres- 
ent limits of Humbolt Township, prior to the year 1836. True, a settlement 
had been made along the Okaw as early as 1838, but this was farther west and 
is now included in North Okaw Township. When the first settlers of Hum- 
bolt Township came, they found the few farms then in cultivation, eitlier in 
the timber or nestling close by it, for none dared venture far from the timber 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 471 

with cabin or farm. So the wide-stretching prairie lay unmolested by the 
hand of man. It was one wide-spread field, where nature sported in her wild- 
est freaks, clad in the habiliments of all that could be called beautiful and 
lovely. Turn which way they might, they were met with wildness, loneliness 
and beauty combined, all on a grand scale and well calculated to make impres- 
sions as lasting as the eternal hills. The wildness was beauty made doubly so 
because innocence was written in letters of gold upon the untold thousands 
of unfolding flowers just bursting from their wintry homes and peeping 
out to catch the early sunbeams and drink in the morning dewdrops. Unmo- 
lested by the foot of man, they spread their beautiful colors and golden 
hues to the praise of Nature's God, eclipsing the lilies of Eden and the 
roses of Sharon, and forever throwing in the shade the floral gardens of 
the world. When John Poorman arrived, in the fall of 1836, and settled 
in the northwest corner of the township, on Section 31, he found just north 
of him, on Section 30, Julius Dugger, who, from the improvements made, 
Mr. Poorman thinks must have settled as early as 1833 or 1831. All 
seem willing to accord to Dugger the honor of building the first cabin and 
making the first improvement in what is now Humbolt Township. Bailey 
Riddle, from North Carolina, had settled in 1833, but his cabin was just across 
the line in Okaw Township. John Pemberton, from Kentucky, came in the 
fall of 1834 or 1835, and settled near Riddle, but after remaining a short time 
sold out and went farther west. The fall of 1835, brought in William Brann; 
that of 1836, Poorman, Noble, Junken, Jacob and David Hoots. In 1837, 
James Walker and John Matthews were added to the settlement. Poorman 
was from Pennsylvania; Brann, Junken and Walker from Rush County, Ind.; 
Matthews, from Tennessee or Kentucky, and the Hootses from North Carolina. 
With the exception of Poorman and Jacob Hoots, these all settled in what is 
now included in Okaw Township, east of the Okaw or Kaskaskia, and on Sec- 
tions adjacent to the western limit of Humbolt Township.' Poorman's location 
has already been designated. Jacob Hoots located directly south of him on 
Section 6. For some years there seemed to be no disposition on the part of 
those coming in to settle east of the improvements already made. They 
either passed on and settled nearer the river, or, crossing the stream, sought a 
more desirable location in the western outskirts of the timber. In 1840, W. 
B. Hawkins, then a young man of nineteen summers, came from Rush County, 
Ind., and purchased a fractional eighty on Section 6, east of Hoots. About 
the same time, Thomas K. Fleming, originally from Kentucky, erected a cabin 
and opened up a farm still farther east on the prairie. About the same date, 
Henry Horn, from Virginia, settled a little northeast of the Hawkins purchase. 
Benjamin Beavers. was next in the township, east of Poorman's. Jacob Hoots 
died in 1842, and Joseph Finley, from Ohio, was the next to settle on his 
farm. The settlers already mentioned, comprise all those who were living in 
the township to the close of 1842 or 1843. Hawkins returned to Indiana in 



472 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

1842, and took unto himself a helpmeet with a view to returning soon after to 
his Western home. His return, however, was delayed till 18.50, when he 
came, built a cabin and set about improving his farm. In the mean time, 
Joshua Nixon had settled at Blue-Grass Grove. In the southeast corner of the 
township, James Shoemaker, and possibly Robert Hill, had settled as early as 
1850. Few, if any, other settlements were made in the township prior to the 
building of the railroad in 1856. From that time forward, settlements multi- 
plied rapidly, and in a few short years the far stretches of prairie to the east, 
which the earliest settlers had thought would remain uninhabited for many 
decades, were thickly studded with human habitations. Of those mentioned as 
having settled in the township as early as 1840, but two are now remaining — 
John Poorman and W. B. Hawkins. The others have nearly all passed over the 
silent river ; a few have passed to the West, and new settlers have taken their places. 
The earliest settlers of this part of the county were exempted from many of 
the hardships and privations endured by those who preceded them a decade or 
more of years in the settlement of other portions of the county. Progress 
and improveruent was visible on every hand. The days of the hominy-mortar 
and hand-mill had passed away, and the glorious era of horse-mills had been fully 
inaugurated. As early as 1837 or 1838, Jesse Fuller had a horse-mill near the 
Okaw, about three miles southwest of where Poorman settled. This served the 
adjacent settlement and kept it supplied with meal. When a grist of wheat was 
to be ground, it became necessaiy to make a trip to True's mill, some ten or 
twelve miles distant. The flour manufactured is said by the old settlers to have 
been of a very superior quality. Going to mill, by those who were obliged 
to cross the prairie for any considerable distance, was usually performed after 
night, in order to avoid the annoyance of the flies. Sometimes a pilgrimage 
was made to Spangler's mills, on the Sangamon River, distant forty miles. 
Terre Haute and St. Louis afforded a market for their surplus supply of hogs, 
while their cattle were driven north to Chicago. These they often sold at what 
would now be considered starvation prices for the producer ; but as their wants 
were few and simple, and easily supplied, they managed to live comfortably, and 
most of them even to lay by in store. In 1841, when the money issued by the 
Springfield Bank was worth only about 50 cents to the dollar and all kinds of 
Illinois money was taken at a great discount, Mr. Poorman relates that loading 
his wagon witli bacon, one barrel of soap, lard and butter, he made a trip to 
La Fayette, Ind. He realized for his bacon $2.50 per hundred, lar<l 6 cents 
and butter 5 cents per pound. The proceeds he invested in groceries, clothing, 
leather and other necessaries for family consumption. The soap he exchanged 
for a barrel of salt. He thus saved himself from contracting debts, and to-day 
he claims that he got his start in life while his neighbors were paying off their 
debts, contracted while he was hauling that load to market. The early meet- 
ings, as in other sections, were held in the cabins of the settlers. " Preaching- 
place," as it was then called, was at Poorman's house, five or six years. The 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 473 

early ministers were Arthur Bradshaw and Joseph Lane, in local relation with 
the M. E. Church. The Baptist brethren held services at Bugger's cabin, and 
among their early ministers were Revs. Martin, Threlkeld and Riley, Regular 
Baptists and circuit-riders. The first church built in Humbolt Township 
was erected by the Methodist society, near the western limits of the township, 
in the latter part of 1856. Among the early church members we find the names 
of John Poorman and family, Thomas K. Fleming and wife, John Southen 
and family, some of the Hootses and others. The congregation was rather a 
mixture of Methodists and Presbyterians, the different organizations having the 
use of the house on alternate Sundays. This house was afterward moved over 
to the village of Milton (now Humbolt) and used for a number of years by the 
Methodist society. About the year 1873, it was taken down and the material 
shipped to Larned, Kan., there rebuilt and occupied as a banking-house. Besides 
the four churches in the village, we find two others in the township. Wesley 
Chapel, in the southeastern portion, was built about 1866. Central Chapel, in 
the northeast corner, was erected in 1868 or 1869. These are the property of 
the M. E. Church. The nucleus of the congregation at Wesley was taken 
from Humbolt and Salem, that of Central from Humbolt. The first school of 
which we have any record was presided over by Noble Brann, and was conducted 
in a vacant cabin, built by John Matthews in the fall of 1887. This cabin 
stood about one mile northwest of Poorman's. Brann was a Hoosier, and a 
teacher of the olden style, tiiat made the recreant "jump Jim Crow." In point 
of education, the township has kept pace with the times. In the township 
proper are nine districts, each supplie 1 with a good frame building. Schools 
were sustained during the past year for a term of 68 months, making an average 
of 7 5-9 months to each district. Number of males attending, 171 ; females, 
140. Male teachers employed, 9 ; females, 3. Highest monthly wages, males, 
$50 ; females, $30. Estimated value of school property, $5,200. Apparatus, 
$250. Principal township fund, 14.700. Special district tax, $2,658. Total 
amount paid teachers, $2,412. Total expense for the year, $3,053. 

The first man who came among the early settlers of Humbolt Township, to 
relieve them of their bodily " aches and pains," was a Dr. Bacon, whose res- 
idence was in what is now Douglas County. He was here, perhaps, as early as 
1838. Dr. Apperson, nephew of Dr. John Apperson, of Paradise Township, 
was also among the early physicians. The first death that occurred was that of 
a little daughter of John Poorman's. She died in 1841, from the effects of a 
rattlesnake bite, and was buried in what is called Brann's graveyard, in Okaw 
Township. She lingered only eight hours after receiving the injury, yet her 
sufferings were intense. .Jacob Hoots died in 1842, and was, doubtless, the first 
adult whose death occurred in the township. These were days in which the 
early settlers were exhorted by every-day experience, that it was a good thing 
to observe faithfully the Scriptural injunction, ' Watch as well as pray.' Not 
only were wolves enemies to their flocks of lambs and young pigs, plentiful on 



474 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

every hand, bui snakes of various kinds infested the prairies. Of these, the 
most dreaded was the rattlesnake ; much stock was injured and several persons 
were bitten by them ; the breaking-up and cultivation of the prairie soon caused 
their extinction. As late as 1850, W. B. Hawkins says that, in breaking one 
round, he killed three full-grown rattlesnakes. On one occasion, when 
gathering strawberries, in company with two or three others, the party 
killed no less than twenty-six during the day. The prairie-wolves were 
a source of no little annoyance to the first settlers. To encourage them to 
use all the means within their reach to rid the country of these ravenous beasts, 
the Legislature of Illinois passed special acts, the first giving 75 cents, and the 
last $1.50 for each wolf-scalp. Thus wolf-scalps became a legal-tender, in tax- 
paying at least. This was a wise act on the part of the Legislature, and gave 
quite an impetus to the great work of destroying the destroyer. The greatest and 
most successful wolf-chases were just after the fall of a deep snow, for the snow 
impeded the swiftness of the wolf much more than it did the fleetness of the 
horse. Immediately after the fall of a deep snow, each settler, armed and 
equipped for the race, would mount his "Pegasus," and, accompanied by his 
dog, would proceed to the place of rendezvous. The following graphic delin- 
eation of the chase has been given by one of the early settlers : " The Blue- 
Grass Grove, a little southeast of where the town of Milton (now Humbolt) 
stands, was the grand rallying-point for all the settlements for miles around. 
It was a grand scene to be out on the wide-spread prairie, all covered with its 
white carpet of beautiful snowflakes, and to see far away in the distance squads 
of horsemen, some standing still, others in full chase of the almost flying wolf, 
that appeared in the distance like some dark bird, skimming the snow ; 
some two or three miles away are two or three horsemen on the look-out. 
Far off" in the distance are two or three men urging their horses to their 
utmost speed toward the guard that is on the look-out. The look-out party 
know that the others are in full pursuit of the desired game; every eye 
is strained to catch a glimpse of the fleeing vagabond, but it is yet too far 
away to be seen; nearer and nearer come the flying horsemen; at length the 
wolf is seen from one hundred to two hundred yards ahead, and appears to 
fly almost, while the swift-footed horses seem to drink in the excitement of the 
chase, and, with outstretched necks and wide-spread nostrils, leaving behind 
them one continued stream of flying snow, thrown up by their nimble feet, 
stretch every nerve to overtake the flying game. The whole scene becomes 
intensely exciting ; the poor wolf is running for life, but, unfortunately, there 
is danger just ahead ; he is running toward other horsemen, on fresh horses, 
who join the chase, and a few hundred yards bring the fresh liorses up with the 
game ; not unfrequently the foremost horse runs over the wolf, killing or crip- 
pling it so that the next man finishes the job. Sometimes, three or four such 
races are in sight at one and the same time, for the hunters from every section 
are concentrating their forces, and drawing near the great rallying-point with 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 475 

from eight to ten wolves. Every man is at his post, while the wolves are mak- 
ing every effort to escape. But every avenue of escape is closed, the dogs are 
let loose, and now men, horses, wolves and dogs are pell-mell together, and the 
work of destruction goes on ; the barking and yelping of the dogs, with the 
shouting of the hunters and running of the horses, all these combined, made 
an exciting scene. It was great fun for the hunters, but death to the poor 
wolves ; in some instances it proved pretty dear sport to the hunter, costing 
him his best horse for sometimes, under the influence of the excitement, he 
pushed his horse too far, so that he fell dead under his rider." In the spring 
season, great pains were taken to find their dens, for the purpose of destroying 
their young. These were generally found on some high point in the wide 
prairie, far from the habitation of man ; all that were caught were scalped, both 
old and young, and the scalps laid up as so much cash against tax-paying day. 
But the days of wolf hunts have long since passed away, and the "varmints " 
are seen no more in all the land. We come now to trace the history of the 
only village in the township, and with it close this section of our work. 

THE VILLAGE OF HU.MBOLT. 

In 1853, A. A. Sutherland, who had settled one mile east of Charleston as 
early as 1828, purchased a tract of land in Section 4, in Humbolt Township, 
east of and adjoining the present roadbed of the I. C. R. R. He erected a 
shanty, the same fall, and engaged in boarding hands employed in the construc- 
tion of the road. The Railroad Co. reserved one-half section, about one mile 
south of the present site of the village, with a view to making a stiition at that 
point. After the completion of the road, in order to secure the station and the 
town site on his premises, he donated to the R. R. Co. ten acres of land. This 
transaction occurred in 1859. Immediately after the acceptance of the dona- 
tion, in company with Thomas K. Fleming, he laid out and platted twenty 
acres east of and adjoining the land donated. This appears as the original town 
plat. Soon after, the R. R. Co. sold their land to Wesley Wampler, who laid 
it out in town lots. This is known as Wampler's Addition, and on this the 
principal part of the town was built. About the year 1860 or 1861, a Mr. Hill 
made an addition north of the original plat, and Wampler made a second addi- 
tion west of the railroad. T. K. Fleming built the first residence on the town- 
site, and Wesley Wampler the second. These were both built in 1859. Others 
came in rapid succession, purchased lots and erected dwellings, so that, by the 
beginning of 1861, the village had well-nigh attained its present size. Like 
many of our Western prairie towns, it sprang into existence almost as if by 
magic. The war coming on in 1861, checked for a season its progress. Wampler 
was the first agent, built the first store and sold the first goods after the laying- 
out of the village. Lewis Hutchinson had kept a country store at this point 
prior to the laying-out of the village, but was not here at this time. John 
Payne, from Paris, Edgar Co., opened a general store early in 1860. Dr. C. 



476 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

M. Odell opened a drug store in 1868 ; a second was soon after opened by 
Hawkins iS: Stuart. The grain trade, at one time, was carried on quite exten- 
sively at this point. Wampler built a warehouse in 1859, and handled the first 
grain. John Glassco built a small house, in the fall of 1860, and engaged in the 
trade. In the fall of 1861, James Wadkins and John Stanley began the busi- 
ness, followed, in the fall of 1862, by A. A. Sutherland. The most important 
enterprise undertaken, as well as the one promising the most good to the village 
and the surrounding community, was the erection of a steam-mill. In 1865, 
James Wadkins, Brownlee & Co. built a mill west of the railroad, a short dis- 
tance north of the depot. This was wholly destroyed by fire in 1870. Its 
loss was keenly felt by the citizens of the village, as its presence brought a 
large trade to the town which afterward floated off into other channels. The 
flour manufactured was of a superior grade, and was in great demand. 

CHURCHES, LODGES, ETC. 

The first church in the village, as has been elsewhere recorded, was moved 
in from the western limits of the township and located south and a little west 
of where the Catholic Church now stands. This was used in common by the 
Methodist and Presbyterian societies for some years. The Presbyterian 
Church was organized, in 1861, by Rev. H. I. Venable. Its early meetings 
were held as above stated. James W. Junken and family, Thomas Banner 
and family, Richard Hawkins and family, James Boyd and family, G. W. 
Woods and wife were among the early members. A neat frame church 
was erected by the society in 1870. The dedicatory sermon was preached 
in February, 1871, Rev. D. M. Stewart ofiiciating. Revs. James Allison 
and E. Howell have since served the Church. The present M. E. Church 
was built in 1873. Rev. D. E. May was pastor at the time. It was 
dedicated, soon after completion, by S. S. Meginnis, Presiding Elder of the 
district at the time. The Christian Church was begun in 1865, but did not 
reach completion till the summer of 1871. This society has labored under 
great diSiculty, being few in numbers and most of its members persons of lim- 
ited means. Its house of worship, costing over $2, 000, is a monument to the 
liberality of W. B. Hawkins, who contributed more than one-half of the whole 
amount for its completion. The early meetings of the Church were held in 
cabin of Hawkins, and Elder Thomas Goodman was the first preacher. Elder 
James Conner and his sons, James and Samuel W., have since served the con- 
gregation. The Holy Angels (Catholic) Church was built about 1870, under 
the supervision of Father Mangin. Thomas Kilfoyl, Thomas Pendergrast, 
John Wall and families, Edmund Reagan, Mary Lynch and others were among 
the early members. Father Mangin was the first priest, and was succeeded by 
Father Gonin. All the churches are neat frame buildings, and, with their 
tall spires pointing heavenward, give to the village quite a city-like appearance 
in the distance. 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 477 

Elwood Lodge, No. 589, A., F. & A. M., was chartered by the Grand Lodge 
October 6, 1 868. The charter was granted to Jesse B. Gray, George W. Gray? 
Alfred Bugh, J. P. Westby, J. M. Wharton, A. Sparks, Joel Stevenson and 
others. Jesse B. Gray was appointed Master, George W. Gray, S. W., and A. 
G. Bugh, J. W. Stated meetings Saturday on or before full moon and two 
weeks thereafter. 

Prospect Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., No. 636, was instituted March 21, 1877, by 
Deputy Gi'and Master James Hamilton, of Bluif Lodge, No. 605. A charter 
was granted by the Grand Lodge October 10, 1877. The first officers were W. 
B. Kennedy, N. G. ; J. D. Denning, V. G. ; Hugh Maxey, Sec. ; 0. M. 
McNutt, Treas. Regular meetings of the Lodge Wednesday night of each 
week. 

Humbolt Lodge K. of H., No. 1046, was organized April 23, 1878, by J- 
F. Drish and T. E. Woods. The society has a membership of fifteen souls and 
meets regularly Thursday evening of each week. 

Benoni Lodge of Good Templars, No. 377, was organized March 23, 1874. 
A charter was granted from the Right Worthy Grand Lodge to W. B. Ken- 
nedy, John Moore, 0. D. Noe, Horace Wells, Dollie Wells, Sallie Woods, 
Belle Gray, Annie Burgess, W. C. Lacy and others. These societies all meet 
for the transaction of business in the same hall, over Gray & Danner's store. 

Dr. C. M. Odell, who came in August, 1859, was the first physician to locate 
in the village. About four months later, Dr. Wharton located. The medical 
fraternity at present is represented by Drs. Odell, Brewer and Stuart. The 
present school building, a neat frame containing two rooms, was built in 1870- 
A Mr. Stevenson taught the first session in the new house. 

VILLAGE INCORPORATED. 

On the 20th of February, 1866, an election was held at which twenty-five 
votes were cast for, and five against, incorporation. February 27, the following 
board of officers was chosen : R. D. Senteney, Police Justice ; Trustees — J. 
P. Westby, J. C. B. Wharton, H. L. Stewart, William A. Wood and Abner 
Sparks. Sparks being a non-freeholder, was declared ineligible, and, April 11? 
William B. Hawkins was chosen to fill the vacancy. When the village was 
first laid out, by common consent of those interested, it was christened Milton. 
A petition was circulated and then forwarded to the Capitol, praying for the 
establishment of a post office with the same name. This could not be granted, 
as an office of that name already existed in Pike County. The petitioners then 
added the word "Station," and thus amended, the petition was granted and the 
post office was established with the name Milton Station. A. A. Sutherland 
was the first postmaster, and the office was kept at his residence for some time. 
It is at present kept in the store of Gray k Danner ; G. W. Gray is the present 
postmaster. The citizens, and more especially those engaged in conducting the 
business of the village, soon became convinced that they had acted unwisely in 



478 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

choosing " Milton " as the name of their village and post office. Not only mail 
matter, but express and freight intended for this point often found its way into 
Pike County, and vice versa. April 23, 1875, a petition was presented to the 
Trustees praying for a change in name from Milton to Humbolt. May 17, the 
petition was renewed, and at that date an ordinance was passed granting the 
petition, said ordinance to take effect from and after May 28, 1875. The name 
of the post office was changed at or near the same time. Humbolt has a popu- 
ation of about three hundred. She has three general merchandise stores, two 
drug stores, one grocery, one blacksmith and wood-work shop, one broom-fac- 
tory and one grain-warehouse. 

LA FAYETTE TOWNSHIP. 

This township, situated in the western part of the county, contains thirty- 
six sections, and therefore agrees with the Congressional township in common 
with a few others of like size in the county. The surface of the country is 
somewhat diversified. It is, however, rather inclined to the appearance of an 
ordinary prairie, save where a stream courses through it. From the fact that a 
large part of the township is prairie land it was not fully settled till after the 
advent of the railroads. These coming through the level part, opened a high- 
way for the more speedy transportation of products, and caused the before 
uncultivated prairie to soon abound in farms, and to change from a condition of 
nature to homes of plenty. Kickapoo Creek and Kiley's Creek are the only 
streams of water found here. The former, the largest of the two, flows through 
the township from east to west, a little south of the center, and, after passing 
on through Charleston Township, finds an outlet in the Embarrass. The creek 
derived its name from an ancient tribe of Indians who once resided on its banks. 
Riley's Creek runs through the northern tier of sections from the west to the 
east, and finds in Charleston Township an outlet in the Kickapoo. Neither of 
these streams is of sufficient size to afford any practical use, save drainage. 
Each is skirted by belts of timber, wherein the pioneers found homes partially 
protected from the rude blasts of the early winters. In the northwest part of 
the township are one or two small groves, the largest and most notable of which 
is the Dead Man's Grove, so named from a mournful incident, related in the 
county history. The groves and timber along the streams furnished, in early 
days, a good supply of building-timber. This has largely been removed since 
the settlement began, leaving only a growth inferior in size and quality, and 
chiefly used for fire-wood. The products of La Fayette Township are the 
cereals (the chief of which is corn), cattle and hogs. Of late, fine stock has 
attracted considerable attention among the farmers, and is now taking the place 
of the inferior quality seen heretofore. Corn is raised in immense quantities, 
and is largely used in feeding stock. The Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad 
affords good facilities for shipment East or West, while at Mattoon the Illinois 



HISTORY OF COLES COUIITY. 479 

Central offers equally good outlets to Southern and Northern markets. Of 
late years, many farmers Iiave borrowed money at 10 per cent interest, 
which several could not pay, and hence much land has fallen into the hands of 
non-resident owners. The effect of this policy, in the end, will be to cut large 
farms into smaller ones, and give the township more freeholders. The policy 
of borrowing money and mortgaging a farm has proved evil here as elsewhere, 
and is teaching the farmers that no legitimate business will pay such a per cent 
and at the same time maintain itself. It will ruin any man ; and while it 
will effect the deprivation of many of their homes, it will, in the end, as sug- 
gested, cut these farms into smaller portions, held at first by renters who event- 
ually will own them. 

THE PIONEERS. 
" Before them, then, were benJing skies ; 
Behind them, now, proud cities rise; 
And where the father's cabin fell. 
The sons in stately mansions dwell. 

** Before them leaped tlie prairie-fires. 
Behind them gleam a hundred spires ; 

And where the panther made his lair, y 

The godly meet for praise and prayer. 

" Before them all was waste and wild. 
Behind them blooming gardens smile ; 
And where the thorn and thistle grew, 
The dahlias drink the morning dew. 

" Before them stretched a trackless plain, 
Behind them waving fields of grain ; 
And where the wild beast roamed and fed, 
The toiler eats his daily bread. 

■■ Before them lay an unknown land, 
A myriad homes behind them stand ; 
.\nd where the hissing serpent crept, 
The little child in peace hath slept." — George B. Batch. 

The picture drawn by Mr. Balch is not in the least overdrawn. Before the 
pioneer lay a trackless wilderness; behind him is a garden. The first settlers 
in this township found it a waste ; those that survive them see it filled with the 
homes of plenty, largely the work of those pioneers whose memory we now 
preserve. 

During the summer of 1825, several persons were in this part of Illinois, 
prospecting, hunting and seeking homes. Among them were Samuel Henry 
and John Robinson, of Crawford County. They spent some time on the Kick- 
apoo, hunting and examining the different sections of country adjacent. Finding 
an excellent soil, plenty of timber and water enough for all practical pur- 
poses, they determined to make this their home. Robinson soon brought his 
wife to this place, and set about building a camp. Henry, on his return to 
Crawford County, hired John Veach to bring him. his family and their effects to 



480 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

the new home. Then there were but very few settlers in the present limits of 
Coles County, and, what few there were, were pioneers in the truest sense of 
the word. Mr. Veach, not caring for the journey, sent his son Jesse, then 
eighteen years of age, and an expert hunter and frontiersman. On the 18th 
of December, he loaded the Henry family into the old Virginia wagon, hitched 
his ox and horse teams to it, and prepared for the journey. That night they 
went to the cabin of S. H. Bates, father of John Bates, now well known in 
Coles County, and remained with them till morning. Mr. Bates was also ready 
to come with them, having heard of the richness of the soil here, and the 
promise of a competence in after-life. That night, the two families got to where 
Isaac Lewis lived, not far from where the present town of Robinson is situated, 
where they remained overnight. They found, on their arrival here, that Ben 
Parker, an early settler in Coles, which, it must be recollected, did not then 
exist in name, was here to take Mr. Lewis back with him. It will be 
observed that neither Mr. Henry nor Mr. Lewis had teams of their own. 
They were too poor to own any, and were, therefore, dependent on their neigh- 
bors for such accommodations as they could get. The three families made the 
journey in four days. The first day out, they got as far as Eaton's mill, on the 
north fork of the Embarrass. The second day, to Long Point, where they 
camped, there being no habitation near. The third day, they got to a camp, 
where George Parker now lives, where they got some corn for their teams. 
The evening of the fourth day, they arrived at the unfinished cabin of Mr. 
Bates, which they completed, so they could find shelter therein, and remained 
there for the night. The cabin was inclosed and covered, but no doors made 
nor any chimney built The next day, Mr. A'^each started for the Kickapoo 
timber with Mr. Henry's family. He got to the camp made by Robinson 
about the middle of the afternoon, unloaded his wagon, and returned to the 
Bates cabin to remain overnight. The next day he started home, reaching it 
in a few days time. 

Mr. Henry and his family reached their new home on the afternoon of 
December 25, 1825. They were alone in this part of the country — no one 
west of them for many miles. A few settlers were in the eastern part of the 
county, but none nearer than the cabin of Mr. Bates, whom they left that 
morning. On their way up from Crawford County, they met Robinson and 
his wife with their ox-team going back to the settlement, where they expected 
to remain during the winter. They informed them an unfinished camp was awaiting 
them, and told them how they had left, expecting to return in the spring. Mr. 
Henry and his wife set about, immediately on their arrival, making themselves 
as comfortable as they could, and, as the winter was rather mild, experienced 
but little hardship. They found wild honey and game abundant, and suf- 
fered none for provisions. They had brought corn enough to supply themselves 
with corn-bread, and with that and the abundant wild food fared well while 
alone in the woods. Early in the spring, Robinson and his wife returned with 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 481 

their ox-team, bringing with them the news of the day and the cheering infor- 
mation that others were preparing to follow. During their return visit, Mrs. 
Robinson had become a mother, and brought back the first baby to the settle- 
ment. Both families used the cabin, built the autumn before, until Henry 
could complete his own, into which he at once moved, and the second home 
in the township was established. When the season opened, these two men 
prepared ground, sowed wheat, planted corn, started a small garden for each, 
and prepared to erect permanent cabins as soon as the crops could be " laid 
away." Before this was done, however, they were joined by John Wilkinson, 
from Edgar County, who. hearing of the rich soil and natural advantages 
to be found here, left that county and located in the northeast part of what is 
now La Fayette Township, forming the beginning of a settlement there. He 
remained only one year, however, when he sold to Isaac Parker and went to 
Texas, where he afterward became a noted man. This same spring of which we 
are speaking (1826), Samuel Woods came up from Crawford County, selected 
his claim, planted a crop, with the assistance of a few neighbors raised a cabin, 
and, in the fall, went back and brought up his family. He settled near the east 
side of the township, not far from the present Methodist Church. He remained 
here until his death. Thomas Robnet came the same spring, and located near 
where H. Nabb now lives. Not liking the location, he moved, soon after, to 
the farm now owned by Levi Doty, where he lived till 183o, when he sold that 
claim and went to the Lone-Star State. Whether any other families than these 
mentioned came this summer, is now very difficult to determine. Mr. 
Jesse Veach says he knows there were none when he brought Henry's family, 
in the fall of 1825, and he has not been informed of any more than those 
named. He went back to Crawford County, the next year went to New 
Orleans on a flatboat, and, on his return, married and settled in the neighbor- 
hood where he had lived. He did not become a citizen of Coles County till 
1831. He was up here, however, he says, several times in the interim, and 
knew pretty well what was being done. As it impossible, at this date, to accu- 
rately note the date of each one's settlement before the Black Hawk war, we 
will give each one as far as we have been able to gather them. Some will, 
undoubtedly, be omitted, as no record was kept and no one lives now who can 
tell to a certainty who came. Among those coming next after those mentioned 
was James James, who came from Edgar County in 1826 or 1827 — probably 
the latter year. He married, for his second wife, a daughter of Mr. Bates, 
whose coming has already been mentioned. Levi and James Doty, both young 
men, came about the same time. They are yet living. James Burns settled 
near where William R. Jones now lives, but remained only a few years. James 
Ashmore, from Tennessee, came in this period. It will be remembered that at 
his house the first election in the county was held. It was rather a central 
point, and also one well known. He and the entire family of Ashmores 
became prominently known all over Coles County. On the day of the election, 



482 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

plenty of whisky was furnished by the opposing candidates, as was the custom 
then, and, as this beverage excited men to unlawful and wicked deeds then, as 
now, about a dozen fights occurred. It was a " big thing " then to be the " boss 
fighter," or able to whip any man in the country. It seemed to be a measure 
of prowess then, as on the frontier now. Mr. John Phipps states that he was 
at that election, and remembers (he was twelve years old at the time) there were 
about a dozen fights before the day was over. One champion and his friends 
would challenge another of equally renowned prowess, and the point must be 
settled. 

Another settler of this period was William Pai-ker, who settled where 
William Jones now lives. Another was John Veach, who hearing the stories 
of the fertile land in this part of the country, came here in 1828, and 
remained. John Phipps came that same year, from AVabash County. He had 
four or five children, one of whom, John, Jr., narrates the coming of the fam- 
ily, their settlement here, and their own and neighbors' struggles for a start. 
He says they moved into an old, unfinished cabin they found in the woods not 
far from where he is now living, and which they occupied some time. It had 
no floor, was very imperfectly daubed, and was, withal, a poor lodging-place. 
It was, though, the best they could do, and like many another pioneer family, they 
did what they could, not what they wanted to. They were consoled in a meas- 
ure by the fact that some of their neighbors had no better lodging-place, some, 
even, had none. They, and all others similarly situated, did the best they 
could in these primitive dwellings till they could get their crops gathered, 
when they erected closer and better cabins, which they used until circumstan- 
ces allowed them to build frame dwellings. Mr. Phipps shows now with no 
little pride, an old wind-mill, si.xty-seven years old, his father brought with 
him when he came to this part of the State. He remembers, in addition to 
the families named, those of Elijah Gibbs, who came here from Crawford 
County, and who remained until his death occurred; William Ewing, from 
Kentucky; William Williams, who came in 1829, from Kentucky, and who 
lived here all his life. "Capt." R. E. Y. Williams, a boy then, is now living 
on the old place. Samuel Williams came with the others, but did not remain 
long, returning to Kentucky. Others, he remembers, were old Mr. Scott, 
William R. Jones, Rev. Daniel Barbara, a noted Baptist minister, and one of 
the early settlers in Pleasant Grove, John Gordon, another pioneer, who 
moved there in 1829, Rev. Threlkeld, and a few others. 

To go over the ground covered in the general county history, and repeated 
more particularly in some of the township histories, in describing the mode of 
life, erection of cabins, hunting, etc., would be a needless repetition here. 
That part of the life of a pioneer was the same everywhere. The cabins were 
all of the same pattern ; the hunts for honey, bears, wolves, deer, etc., were 
the same in all places, and need no further description here. During the 
period we mention, until the Black Hawk war, about twenty-five families set- 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 483 

tied in La Fayette Township. As all but one or two settled about the Kicka- 
poo timber, quite a community was formed by that time. The county being 
created in 1830, a voting-place was made at Mr. Ashmore's, until near 1859, 
■when the Vass Schoolhouse, a pioneer among educational institutions here, was 
used when the electors met to exercise the rights of American citizens, until its 
removal a little farther east, and change of name to Monroe Schoolhouse, where 
they now meet for the same privilege. 

Until the formation of the townships in 1859, the entire county was made 
one voting precinct, with several voting-places, Charleston being the chief. 
A person could vote wherever he happened to be. It is to be recorded to the 
credit of the people, too, that they repeated votes very seldom. We are told 
there was but very little of that done, although we have often been informed 
by men that they voted where they were not well known before they were of 
legal age. Party politics did not run so high then as now, probably. 

The "deep snow" in 1830-31, the ''shooting stars " in 1838, and the 
"sudden Ireeze " in 1836, are all well remembered by those who witnessed 
them. Their experiences of these phenomena are the same as others already 
given, and we will not burden our pages with their recital. 

During these years the settlers must have meal and flour, and also wanted 
letters and papers. John Robinson early saw the necessity for a mill of 
some kind, and one of the first things he did on his return in the spring 
of 1826, was to erect a mill on a branch of the Kickapoo. It was a 
weak affair, but as it saved the settlers going back to Crawford County, or going 
to Parker's mill when built, or to Slover's, when it appeared, they came to use 
it whenever necessary. As Slover's and Parker's mills were improvements on 
it, however, they came to get the "balance of trade, " and it gradually went 
down. John True, another early settler, built a horse-mill soon after his arrival, 
and such of his neighbors as did not desire to go several miles over a roadless 
country patronized his primitive afiair. Mr. Threlkeld, in addition to the duties 
of a frontier minister, found time to build or help a Mr. Michael build one on 
his place, and to help him run it. Mr. Threlkeld supported himself in all his 
ministry, believing like many of his co-workers that it was his duty to do so. 
Indeed, his only hope of a livelihood lay in this direction ; the people were too 
poor to support a minister, even had they desired to do so. These mills men- 
tioned are about the only ones ever built in this tawnship. Water-power suffi- 
cient to run one all the year was not to be had, and the erection of better ones 
in other parts of the county where better natural advantages existed precluded 
the necessity of their erection here. No saw-mills were built till about IH-IO. 
Then Thomas Marshall erected one in the north part of the township on a branch 
in the grove ; but a freshet carrying it off a few years after, the effort was 
abandoned. The loss to Mr. Marshall was about $600. 

A son of A'^ulcan set up his forge and bellows here soon after the settlement 
began. Jacob Zinn, about this time concluded there existed a good opening 



484 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

for such an occupation in this community and opened a blacksmith-shop. He 
sharpened hoes, axes, barshare plows or any implement brought to him. When 
the county seat was established in 1831, and shops began to appear there, his 
customers gradually went there for work, and he, not long after, removed his 
shop elsewhere. He was succeeded by Edw. Cartmell, who remained here a 
short time and went to Paradise. From there he removed to Mattoon, when 
that place was started in 1855, and was among its earliest residents. 

Among the settlers, about 1836, was Joseph Vanderen, who came from 
Kentucky. He was quite an extensive land-owner and trader, and brought 
with him a stock of miscellaneous goods from a store he owned in the Blue- 
Grass State. This stock he opened in a small log house and gave it out in 
payment for labor until it was exhausted. Capt. .Jones, now living in Stockton, 
was a clerk here, and made his first adventure in mercantile life in this little 
log store. About the time it was closed out, Joseph Eckles opened a store in a 
frame house standing near where Benjamin Turney now lives. This store 
came quite prominent as a local trading-point, and, until the railroads were begin- 
ging to appear, did an excellent business. A large part of the trade was ex- 
change. The farmers brought eggs, butter, poultry, etc., and received sugar, 
coilee and other necessary groceries in exchange. The products of the farm 
Mr. Eckles took to Charleston and Terre Haute and exchanged them again for 
groceries or .whatever articles he desired, and returned with them to his inland 
store to repeat the experiment. He continued the store eight or ten years, when 
the continued growth of Charleston, and the expectation of a new town wher- 
ever the crossing of the railroads would occur, induced him to close the business. 
When Mattoon was located, the frame store was removed there and used for 
various purposes. It was the first house on the plat of that town, but not the 
first house built there. 

The influx of immigration continued steadily for several years after the first 
settlers came. All confined themselves closely to the timber, and only one 
here and there was venturesome enough to branch out into the prairie and erect 
a home there. The financial crisis of 1840 affected people here as well as else- 
where, and for a time retarded the growth of the country. The first seasons 
were invariably good and produced large crops. This stimulated further emi- 
gration from the South and East, and until the exceeding wet season in 1831, 
consequent upon the great fall of snow the winter before, the crops were abun- 
dant. As the country filled with people, schools and churches were started — 
which we will notice further on in a particular manner — the shops spoken of 
were started, mills and the two stores mentioned were erected, and life here 
assumed the pluises of an old country. Log cabins, one by one^ gave way before 
the march of improvement, and were replaced by frame houses or more com- 
fortable hewn-log houses. Farms gradually began to be fenced. Cattle and 
hogs were stopped from running at large, for corn and wheat fields became com- 
mon now, and, moreover, fed-stock came gradually into market. The pig, that 



J 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 485 

in pioneer days fattened on mast, was penned and deprived of his migratory 
mode of life, and fed and fattened on corn. Wolves and deer, once so plenty, 
gradually died out till now they are a rarity. Wolf-hunts are a thing of the 
past our grandsires love vO tell us of; while our grand-dames' old spinning- 
wheels, whereon they made the cloth for the family from the tall nettles or from 
cotton, once grown here, are relics of the past, standing idle now to remind us 
what it takes to make a country. Deer do not roam the prairies now in herds 
of dozens, and come before the cabin so the lord and master can have fresh deer 
meat for breakfast, and not leave his cabin door to secure it. Chickens and 
young pigs are not housed to protect them from the prowling wolf. Wild tur- 
keys are a thing of the past. Cultivated farms are everywhere now, and what 
was once nature's domain is now the home of the husbandman. The agitation 
of the railroads and their construction from 1850 to 1856 gave a fresh impetus 
to settlers. Until the opening of the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad, there 
were but very few settlers in the part of the township traversed by the road, or 
more properly its prairie portion. Mr. William Miller says that when he came 
to his present homestead in 1854, there were only seven families in that part of 
the township. These families wei'e James, William and Samuel Shoemaker, 
John and T. C. Mills, Jacob Vanmeter,and Fi-ed G. True who was living on a farm 
belonging to Col. Marshall, of Charleston. The southern part of the township, 
both above and below the Kickapoo, was well settled then ; but the farms 
extended outward from the timber, the houses almost always being within its 
protection. When the prairie land came before the people at the time the rail- 
roads made migration easy, they were settled as if in a day. In less than a 
decade of years there was not an acre of unoccupied land. The election of 1860 
showed over two hundred voters in this township, as large a vote as has been 
polled since. When the reader remembers that six years before, no one lived 
on the prairie in the township, he can readily see how rapidly it settled. The 
opening of the railroad brought the city of Mattoon just over the western border 
of this township, and the village of Stockton in its midst. It also brought easy 
transportation to tlie products of the farmers, and allowed a closer and more 
general cultivation of the soil. The majority of the timber of sufficient size to 
be of practical use in building was by this time about all gone, leaving a growth 
now used chiefly for fire-wood. When the re-action from the last war — to which 
the township sent several soldiers-^came, it brought an era of " flush " times, 
which many farmers erroneously supposed would always continue. Hence now 
we see much of the land owned by non-residents, persons who loaned the farm- 
ers money at a heavy rate of interest and at a value which no one could pav. 
As the return to specie payments came, the decline in money occurred, and 
when the time to pay the principal caVne, the land had shrunken in value till it 
about equaled the face of the loan. The farm was sold to satisfy the claim, and 
now many who once were wealthy find themselves starting anew in life. The 
effect in the end will be, the non-resident does not want the land, and will sell 



486 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

it in smaller tracts, and thus more freeholders will exist. The township is now 
passing through this period and in time will recover. 

The reader will have, no doubt, noticed an absence of allusion to churches 
and schools in the foregoing pages. They have been purposely omitted, in 
order to present them under separate heads. We will, therefore, turn our 
attention to them, forming, as they always do, no inconsiderable part in the 
narrative. „ ,„ 

SCHOOLS. 

Mr. John Phipps states that he does not recollect any schools in this town- 
ship the first winter they came. He thinks, however, there may have been one 
in some cabin, as there were several children here at that date — 1828. They 
were probably taught by their parents, unless some adventurous schoolmaster 
was here and supplied the educational wants of the community. Mr. Phipps 
says there was a school taught soon after they came, for he remembers attend- 
ing the school. Whether this was the ne.xt winter — 1829-30 — or the one a 
year later, he does not now recollect. A log schoolhouse was built near a place 
known as the Sulphur Springs, where an old gentleman named Watson, taught 
the country youths and maidens the rudiments of education, then rather meager. 
These ancient pedagogues ruled their scholars by the force of the rod, more than 
any other way. Moral " suasion " was not much talked of then. The "suasion" 
generally was a good, limber hickory switch well applied. Rev. Daniel Barhamand 
Therop E. Balch were also among these early teachers. The old schoolhouse 
built by the spring, was followed by others in different parts of the community as 
the wants of each locality became apparent. One of the early schoolhouses was 
known as the "E wing" School, in the southern part of the township. In this house, 
the Methodists organized a class in early days, one of the oldest societies in that 
denomination, in the county. It was the founder of the present Kickapoo M. 
E. Church, a history of which appears elsewhere in these pages. This school 
supplied the wants of this part of the township many years. It is yet con- 
tinued, though in a modern house and under modern methods. Schools began 
to appear numerously by i860, mainly the outgrowth of the free-school system 
established about 1845. It took several years to educate the people up to the 
idea of paying for education by taxation. Especially was this spirit manifested 
in the southern part of the State, where the people were chiefly of Southern 
origin. Tliey knew only of the old system of subscription-schools, where only 
those paid who sent childi'en, losing sight of the great fact that to properly 
educate the masses, insures safety to the populace. The results of the last 
twenty years have fully verified the predictions of the founders of the free 
schools, and now are fully exemplified all over the State. 

From statistics furnished by Mr. Lee, County Superintendent of Schools, 
we glean the following items regarding the schools in La Fayette Township : 

Number of schools, 9 ; number of academies, 1; number of school chil- 
ilren — males, 208 ; females, 183 ; total, 391 ; average wages paid to teachers 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 487 

per month — males, §43.24; females, $25.44; length of school term, 6 months; 
value of school property, $3,551; principal of township fund, $923. 

CHURCHES. 

Outside of the village of Stockton, there are four churches in this township 
— three Baptist and one Methodist. One of these, the Bethel Baptist Church, is 
one of the oldest churches in the county. It was founded by Father Barham, 
or William Martin, both of whom were 'fearly ministers here. The organization 
was made in some cabin, probably that of the ministers, with only a few mem- 
bers, and, for awhile, the place of worship was continued there. When the 
schoolhouse was built, near Sulphur Springs, in 1829 or 1830, the preaching- 
place was made there, and continued there until about 1835, when a log church 
was erected near the site of the present Bethel church. The congregation 
grew with ordinary success until 1840, when, owing to a difference of views 
concerning points of order, a division occurred, and from that date two congre- 
gations appear. Both used the same house now replaced by a better and more 
commodious structure, until Mattoon was started, when, owing to the fact of 
several of the members in the withdrawing party being there or near there, a 
house of worship was built thei-e in 1856, and this part went there to worship. 
Theirs was the first church in the town. The old body retained possession of 
the property, and still use the Bethel Church and are known by that name. 
Thomas Threlkeld had been one of the early pastors here, and remained with 
them until the division, when he went with the Mattoon church. He remained 
in the ministry until his death. The Betliel Church still continues prosperous, 
and supports regular services. The Mattoon church, sometimes known as Mis- 
sionary Baptists and by other names, remained in Mattoon until about 1869 or 
1870, when they sold their property, preparatory to removing to a more central 
location for their people. They used a schoolhouse a few miles west of Stock- 
ton until they could erect a house of worship, which they completed soon after 
the change, and which they now use. Mr. Threlkeld was succeeded in the 
ministry by J. G. Sawin, the present Pastor. The number of members is 
now about twenty. The Church retains the same name as its original — Bethel 
Church. 

The Nineveh Missionary Baptist Church is of recent origin, having been 
organized only about four years. Rev. Barker was the originator and chief 
one in the formation of the Church, and has done much for its advancement. 
They built a very neat frame church, a few years ago, which they now regularly 
occupy. 

The Kickapoo Methodist Church was organized as a class, probably, before 
the Black Hawk war. Just when, is not now known. Like all other frontier 
churches, its members met in each other's cabins and offered up their prayer 
and praise to the Being who preserved them and gave them the blessings they 
enjoyed. As soon as the Ewing Schoolhouse was erected, they met there, and 



488 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

continued therein until they could erect a log church, which they used until 
the erection of their present house of worship, in 1860. They were watched 
over in pioneer times by ministers who braved the dangers of a frontier life, and 
who counted it richer by far to save a soul than to gain a kingdom. That they 
have their reward no one can doubt. The little church, founded by so few, 
years ago, is now strong, and able not only to bear its oWn burden, but to help 
others in their start, knowing by experience the benefit of a little aid at the 
right time. 

One other church in the township remains to be mentioned. As it is in the 
village of Stockton, however, we forbear any sketch of it here, and pass to the 
sketch of the village first, whose history will close this chapter. 

STOCKTON. 

When the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad was completed through this 
township, a stopping-place was made where Stockton now is, that point being 
nearly half-way between Mattoon and Charleston. For about seven years, the 
condition of things _ remained the same, only a platform being built and a 
switch made. Capt. B. F. Jones was mainly instrumental in getting even this 
much of an arrangement, and during all this time, was a constant shipper. He 
brought the frame building immediately south of the track here, and used it as 
a storehouse and warehouse for several years. In the fall of 1863, Capt. 
Jones, who owned the land on which the village is now situated, concluded to 
lay out a town, and for that purpose had J. J. Peterson, a surveyor, plat the 
original village. In casting about for a name, Mr. Thomas E. Woods, then 
connected with the Mattoon Journal, suggested Stockton, and, without waiting 
to see if there was any other town or post oflBce in the State of that name, it 
was adopted. When the post office was established here, soon after, another 
village in Illinois was indeed found of that name, with an office, and the postal 
authorities refused to christen this one by the name given it. After one or two 
efibrts, the name Lo.xa for the post office was suggested and accepted. The cit- 
izens have several times endeavored to get the railroad company to change the 
name of the station to correspond with that of the post office, but, so far, have 
been unable to do so. 

Soon after the town was surveyed, John Monroe, who had been connected 
with Capt. Jones in the shipping business, erected a store. About the same 
time that he began in the dry goods, groceries, etc., trade, S. Y. Vance came 
also, and united with him in supplying the wants of the people hereabouts- 
These two men and J. W. Egbert erected liouses, removed families to them and 
started village life in earnest. Mr. Sawin, Capt. Jones and a few others fol- 
lowed them, and in a few years the village assumed its present proportions. 
Capt. Jones also erected a store, now used, and when the Cumberland Presby- 
terians decided to remove their church to the village, he purchased the old 
church and converted it into a hay-barn. But one or two stores only have been 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 489 

built here. The village being midway between the county seat and Mattoon, 
the greater part of the trade of the people about the village goes to one or the 
other of these places, leaving only a local trade here. A shop or two, the ship- 
ping business in town and one or two other commodities complete its trade. 

Until about 1870, school was maintained in the district schoolhouse, near the 
village. About that time, however, the building was erected here, and since then 
school has been taught in the village. It is still under the township control. 

Eight years ago, Prof. Thomas J. Lee, County Superintendent of Schools, 
opened an academy, which he has made a success. A few years ago, Capt. 
•Jones, who has done much for this town and community, built a very com- 
modious house for the use of the Academy, capable of accommodating over one 
hundred scholars. Pupils are fitted for teaching here, the curriculum of studies 
being prepared especially to that end. Prof. Lee received his education at the 
West Point Military Academy, and brings thoroughness and exactness to bear 
in his instruction. The school is away from any evil surroundings prevalent 
in larger places, and fills the void excellently well for which it is intended, viz., 
a step between the common school and the college. Music is also taught here, 
and, as the school is centrally located, it is well attended by pupils from the 
surrounding country. A glance at the catalogue shows a large percentage of 
its pupils engaged in teaching. As an evidence of the favorable condition of 
the school, it is noticed that the attendance has grown from 63 pupils the first 
year, to 111 the last year. During the ordinary vacation, Prof. Lee conducts 
a five-weeks normal, which is well attended. 

The only church in Stockton is the Cumberland Presbyterian, which, as has 
been mentioned, was brought from the counti-y. The congregation was organ- 
ized several years before the town was contemplated, in the northeast part of 
the township, and a church erected a short distance north of the site of Stock- 
ton. After the village was started, it was concluded best to remove the place 
of worship there. Capt. Jones purchased the old frame church, and, in 1868, 
the present edifice was erected. It is a commodious frame building, and is at 
present sufficiently large for the congregation. Only occasional services are 
held here, the congregation not being able to sustain a regular minister. 



NORTH OKAW. 

This township, located in the extreme northwest corner of the county, like 
the other townships in the northern tier, includes one and one-half townships 
in its area. In the days when the territory of Coles County was divided into 
voting precincts, Okaw Precinct extended as far north as the northern bound- 
ary of the present county of Douglas, and south to its present limits. The 
votes of her citizens at that time were cast at the small village of Bagdad, on 
the old Springfield trace. Some years later, as the population increased, a 
division was made by a line running east and west about one mile north of the 



490 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTV. 

old Springfield trace, and all the territory north of that line was designated 
North Okaw, and that of which we are now writing was known as South Okaw. 
The name as originally applied to the precinct, was taken from the river which 
traverses the township in a general southwestern direction. To this stream the 
French gave the name Kaskaskia, while the Indians designated it uniformly by 
the name Okaw. The early settlers adopted the Indian name, and their 
descendants speak of it to-day as the Okaw, to the utter exclusion of the 
French name. Perhaps a more accurate description in regard to name would 
be given by saying, that from Shelbyville to its source, the name Okaw is 
invariably applied, while from the same point to its mouth it is known as the 
Kaskaskia. When the county was divided into townships, the citizens met for 
the purpose of selecting a name. The name Martin was proposed by some, in 
honor of one of the early .settlers. Others, to whom the name Okaw had 
become endeared from its association with their early struggles and hardships, 
clung with something akin to filial affection to the dear old name. On the call 
for a vote, Okaw's standard was lifted up by a large majority. When the 
name was submitted for approval, it became necessary to prefix the word North 
in order to distinguish more clearly the territory bearing the name, from that 
of Okaw Township, in Shelby County. Thus, what was once known as South 
Okaw Precinct, became a few years later North Okaw Township. The Okaw 
River enters the township at the extreme northwestern boundary, and flowing 
in a general southwestern direction, passes out at its western boundary about two 
and one-half miles north of the southwestern corner of the township. This 
stream with its tributaries, affords excellent drainage for a large portion of the 
township. Crab-Apple Tree Creek, a small stream flowing from east to west 
through the southern portion of the township, drains the southern tier of sections. 
In its primitive state, fully one- third of its area was timber-land, the remaining 
two-thirds being open prairie. To-day, however, its timber is confined to a 
narrow belt skirting the banks of the Okaw. There is, perhaps, as great 
variety of soil in this township, as can be found in any other in the limits of 
the county. While the prairie is in general rich and productive, and charac- 
terized by a deep, black, loamy soil, even portions of it are far more productive 
than others. The soil of the woodland is far less fertile. Of a light, bluish 
color, and of shallow de])th, it is poorly adapted to the growth of most of the 
cereals ; a better yield of wheat, however, is obtained from the woodland than 
from the prairie, and the crop is much surer, as the soil is better adapted to 
stand the alternate freezing and thawing so common to this climate. Corn, 
however, is the staple product, and upon the successful growing of this crop 
the farmer depends almost entirely for his support year after year. The D., 
M. & S. Railroad crosses the extreme southwest corner of the township, giving 
not to exceed three-quarters of a mile of railroad within her borders. Her 
points for shipping and receiving, are Mattoon and Ilumbolt. Though settle- 
ments were made within the present limits at quite an early day, the great 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 491 

influx of population did not occur till about the years 1855 and 1856, at which 
time the railroads crossing at Mattoon were rapidly approaching completion. 
In a few brief years, her population was doubled and even trebled, and 
the hitherto unoccupied prairie was soon dotted over with human habitations in 
every direction. And where, but a few short years before, the early settler 
was accustomed to chase the fleet-footed deer or flying wolf through the tali 
and matted grass of the unbroken prairie, he saw the rank, luxuriant fislds of 
corn, waving gracefully in the summer breezes. Taken throughout its entire 
extent, the township compares very favorably with those surrounding it, in 
point of wealth and productiveness. 

EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 

The first settlements made in the township were confined to the timber 
along the east and west banks of the Okaw. To locate and build a cabin one- 
quarter of a mile from the woods would have been considered a hazardous and 
foolhardy undertaking. Prairies, in the language of the old settlers, were 
made for the deer, wolves and rattlesnakes, woods and water-courses for man. 
Hence, we invariably find the earliest improved farms in the woodland or hard 
by, while the better or more fertile portions are left to fall into the hands of those 
coming in ^fter-years. Many an old settler toiled and labored almost incessantly, 
day and night, for months, to prepare a few acres of woodland for cultivation, 
when, within a stone's throw of his cabin, lay the rich, fertile prairie, inviting him 
to reap a rich harvest for the mere sowing. The fact that a settlement was 
in the township as early as 1833, seems to be pretty fully established, and John 
Whitley and his sons John, Elisha, William and Randall, are recorded as among 
the first, if not the first, to settle and make improvements in its limits. Their 
improvements were made along the Okaw, near the southwestern limits of the 
township. Elisha and John were on the west side, while William and Randall 
located east of the stream. The Whitleys came from Tennessee, and must have 
came to the State at an early day ; from statements made by the elder Whitley, 
they seem to have passed up ihe Kaskaskia, making settlements at various 
points ; so soon as neighbors began to settle in around them, they would desert 
their places, and, moving up the stream, would again locate, only a few years 
later to move still higher up the stream. About the same time, but higher up 
the stream, we find Baily Riddle, from North Carolina. Jesse Fuller came 
from Virginia in the summer of 1833, and settled east of the river, in the out- 
skirts of t he timber bordering on what is now Humbolt Township. John 
Bracken, from Kentucky, came in the fall of 1833, and made a small improve- 
ment about one-quarter of a mile across the line, in what is now Moultrie 
County. But few, if any, others were in the township as early as 1833. 
Henry and Hawkins Fuller, Woolery Coonrod, Thomas Blythe, William 
Bridgeman, William and Jonathan Graham, Thomas Payton, Noah Elrod, 
Fred Price, Wesley and Isaac Teal were added to the settlement during the 



492 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

year 1834. The Fullers, however, first settled at what is called Whitley 'a 
Point, in Mattoon Township, and, in the fall of 1835, came up into Okaw. 
The Fullers and Price were from Virginia, Coonrod Blythe and the Teals from 
Tennessee, Grahams from Kentucky, Payton and Elrod from Indiana. In the 
spring of 1835, P. M. Ellis came from Tennessee, and the following fall 
brought in Daniel Boothsby, Lowry Hoskins, Nathan Dixon, James Elder and 
William Brann. In the spring of 1836, Jesse Ellis and wife, with their sons 
Wiley and Jesse K., came and settled on the improvement made by John 
Bracken, which Mr. Ellis had purchased a year previous. Noble Junken, 
David and Jacob Hoots came in the fall of the same year. Jacob Hoots set- 
tled, however, in what is now Humbolt Township. From this time forward, 
through a period of about two years, there seemed to be a complete cessation 
of immigration to this point. This may be accounted for in various ways, but 
perhaps the best explanation that could be offered, is the following : The year 
1835 was an exceedingly wet and sickly season. The sick-list included every 
person in the settlement, though the list of mortality was small. Pleasant M. 
Ellis, who came, as has been already stated, in the spring of 1835, says : •' It 
began raining the 16th day of May, and was a daily occurrence, almost, till 
the middle of August following. The Okaw River was at no time between 
these dates fordable. Many of the new-comers having ' shook ' to their 
heart's content, as soon as they were able, packed up ' hook and line ' and 
returned whence they came." Doubtless the unfavorable accounts they gave 
stopped, for a season, the tide of emigration to this immediate locality. In 
the fall of 1838, Alfred Jones and Thomas Ellis, of Kentucky, Samuel Elder, 
of Tennessee, with, perhaps, a few names not now recalled, came and set- 
tled. These all found a location along the east and west banks of the river. 
The timber-lands in general, at that day, appeared far more beautiful than 
they now do, for the great fall fires from the prairies swept through the 
■forest and kept it clear of underbrush, consuming much of the fallen timber, 
so that the timbered land had a clean, pleasant look. The giant old oak stood 
unmolested, spreading its long, leafy boughs north and south, east and west, 
forming cool and pleasant shades, beckoning the weary traveler to lie down and 
rest, while the breezes laden with sweet perfumes from nature's floral garden 
gently fanned him to sleep. But the whole scene is changed, both timber and 
prairie. The prairie by the plowshare and the timber by the relentless chop- 
ping-ax; and where once grew the lovely flowers, is now the far-stretching corn- 
field or the wide-spread meadow; and where once stood in its pristine glory the 
lordly monarch of the forest, it is now thickly overgrown with underbrush. 
What wonder is it, then, that the woodlands so inviting, should have been the 
chosen homes of the early settlers, to the utter disregard of the prairies with 
their dreaded winds and storms. The early settlers of Okaw experienced many 
of the privations and hardships incident to pioneer life. Mills in those early 
days were few in number and distant many miles from each other. John Per- 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 493 

vis had a mill on the Okaw some five or six miles south of the settlement, as 
early as 1833 or 1834. This was about as much a source of annoyance as 
profit, for it could only be operated when the water was at a proper stage, and 
as the stream was nearly always either too high or too low, the mill stood idle 
the greater part of the time. Jesse Fuller had a horse-mill on the east side of 
the Okaw, in 1836. The settlers on the west side were often compelled to swim 
the river in order to obtain grinding. They would take their grist by ox-team 
to the bank, swim their oxen across, then return and bring their grist over in a 
canoe ; then placing the sacks of corn on the backs of the oxen, would jump on 
top and ride to mill. A like process must be repeated on their return. In a 
very dry time, they often went to Spangler's mill on the Sangamon, and some- 
times to Baker & Norfolk's mill on the Embarrass. Difficulties, such as would 
appall the stoutest hearts of the young and rising generation, were met and van- 
quished by these early settlers at a single blow. Sometimes they were reduced 
to the extremity of living for months on meal made from frost-bitten corn. Mrs. 
P. M. Ellis, whose father, William Parker, was one of the early settlers on 
Kickapoo, says, that the only bread she ate for months soon after coming, was 
made from meal so offensive that even the hogs would not eat it. This meal after 
standing for a short time became so compact that it required the aid of a rail 
maul to separate it in order that it might be sifted and made into bread. And 
while to-day we would regard it as a very unwholesome diet and the fruitful parent 
of all manner of diseases, yet they were blest with exceptionally good health. 
As in other localities, the early settlers of Okaw enjoyed the ministrations 
of the Gospel at an early day. The settlers gathered alternately once a month 
at the cabins of Jesse Ellis and old Mr. Simms, and listened to the preaching of 
Rev. William Martin, one of the earliest ministers in the community. He 
belonged to the school of Regular Baptists. Occasionally Rev. Thomas Threl- 
keld paid them a visit. The Separate or Free- Will Baptists built the first 
house of worship in the township, about the year 1850. This house stands on 
Section 18, near the western limits of the township. Among its early mem- 
bers were Thomas Ellis, Mrs. P. M. Ellis and Micajah Phillips. Revs. 
James W. Vaughn and John Webb were its early ministers. Rev. Vaughn 
has labored most of the time for the Church since its organization. As late as 
1866, the Regular Baptists built a church near the center of Section 17. Among 
its early communicants we find the names of Jesse Ellis and wife, Mr. Simms 
and family, Gideon Edwards, James Elder and family. William Martin and 
Thomas Threlkeld were the early Pastors of the Church. The Missionary 
Baptists also built a church on the west line of Section 10, near Cook's Mills, 
about the same date. The Methodist society held its early meetings in the 
cabins of Henry and Hawkins Fuller. Among the early ministers were Revs. 
Roberts, Joseph Lane and Arthur Bradshaw. Quinn Chapel, in the northwest 
corner of the township, was built about the year 1865, and- east of the center 
of the township, Zion M. E. Church was built in 1872 or 1873. These five 



494 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

churches are all neat frame buildings and their existence indicates that the citi- 
zens of this section are by no means indifferent as regards their moral and 
spiritual welfare. 

The early physicians in this settlement were Drs. John Apperson and Seth 
Montague. Apperson, as has been elsewhere noted, was an early settler of 
Paradise Township, but his range of practice extended to then the uppermost set- 
tlements along the Okaw. Dr. J. T. Johnson came in some years later, and set- 
tled among them, and was for many years the leading practitioner in the 
community. The first post ofSce established in the townshij) was about the 
year 1852. Dr. Johnson was the first Postmaster, and, for a number of years, 
the office was kept at his house. It was named, however. Fuller's Point, in 
honor of Henry Fuller, who lived in a point of timber not far from the site of 
the post office. The mail was carried on horse-back from Charleston, along a 
route extending to Decatur. Prior to the establishment of the office at Fuller's 
Point, the citizens of Okaw got their mail-matter at Paradise, distant some 
eighteen miles from portions of the township. In 1868, an office was estab- 
lished at Cook's Mills, and Elam Cook was made Postmaster. Though he has 
not acted in that capacity for a number of years, yet all business connected 
with the office is transacted through his name. Martin Elder, who came in the 
fall of 1835, had, perhaps, the first store in all this section. It was just across 
the line, in what is now Moultrie County. The new enterprise had scarcely 
become known, however, when Elder suddenly left for parts unknown. It 
appears that he had been guilty of some crooked transactions in regard to the 
mails in the section from whence he came, and a United States detective sud- 
denly pounced down upon him, and, having secured pretty much all he had, 
graciously permitted him to escape. Some years later, David Robinson had a 
little country store in the northwest corner of the township proper. 

A saw-mill was built at the present site of Cook's Mills, in 18()4, by Robert 
Uillan, who, soon after, opened out a general country store. This he sold, 
together with the saw-mill, to Elam Cook, about the year 1868. Cook, soon 
after built a steam flouring-mill, the only grist-mill in the township. For some 
years, this mill was operated very successfully ; but, for the past few years, it 
has not been of much benefit to the surrounding community. D. A. Crumm 
is at present proprietor of the store, and has a full general stock. 

Schools were instituted at an early day, and among those who wielded the 
rod of correction and "boarded round," may be mentioned Josiah Hoots, James 
Hamilton and " Grandpap " Baker. The township has kept equal pace with 
her neighbors in point of educational advancement. There are seven school 
districts in the township proper, each supplied with a suitable schoolhouse. 
During the past year, schools have been maintained throughout the several dis- 
tricts, an average of seven and one-half months. Male teachers employed, 
three; female, five. Highest monthly wages paid, males, $40 ; females, $30. 
Principal of Township Fund, $2,300 ; interest from same, $230. Special dis- 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTV. 495 

trict tax levied, |;2,000. Total cost of schools for the year, $2,700. Estimated 
value of school property, $2,100 ; apparatus, $125. 

Three substantial bridges are found spanning the Okaw within the limits of 
the township. Two of these are wooden structures, and the remaining one a 
very substantial iron bridge, spanning the river near the southwestern corner of 
the townshp. This was erected at a cost of some $2,000, and is in every 
respect a stanch and secure structure. After township organization was effected, 
John Hoots was chosen first Supervisor; William H. Smith, first Township 
Clerk, and Joel Martin and Jesse K. Ellis, first Justices. This position Mr. 
Ellis has held almost constantly since ; and it may be said to the credit of the 
morals of the citizens, that during all these years, but one person has been sent 
to the County Jail to await the action of the grand jury. A trial occurred in 
an early day, which afforded no little sport and amusement to the entire settle- 
ment. Martellus Graham had rented of Samuel Elder, a small parcel of 
ground, and was to give one-third of the product for i-ent. Before the division 
was made, a difiiculty arose between Graham and Elder, and on Graham's taking 
a pumpkin from the field. Elder immediately instituted proceedings against him 
for theft. The officer, armed with the necessary papers, and accompanied by 
P. M. Ellis, pi'oceeded to the residence of Graham, and arrested him on the 
charge of theft. This occurred just before daylight, and, as soon as the morn- 
ing meal was over, they set out to bring the prisoner before the Court. Haw- 
kins Fuller was the Justice before whom the case was tried. The whole settle- 
ment was on the ground to enjoy the sport. The prisoner was arraigned, and 
pleaded not guilty. The squire and his good wife set about hunting up the law 
bearing on the case. Mrs. Fuller, who was by far the better lawyer of the 
two, demanded that the stolen property be produced in court, in order that it 
might be identified, and, as the pumpkin could not be produced by the prose- 
cution, the case was dismissed at Elder's cost, amounting to some $10 or $12. 
It was many a day before Elder heard the last of that trial. 

As has already been stated, but few families, comparatively speaking, dwelt 
in the limits of Okaw prior to the building of the railroads in 1855 and 1850. 
David McCullough, so far as we can learn, was the only person who went from 
Okaw Township to the Mexican war. During " the late unpleasantness," 
however, she furnished her full quota of brave boys, and the bones of many of 
her gallant sons lie bleaching on Southern soil. 

The first marriage was that of John Turner to Matilda Simms. This event 
occurred as early as the fall of 1836. P. M. Ellis lost a child, July 10, 1835, 
and, a few weeks later, James Ellis, a brother, died. These were, doubtless, 
the first deaths that occurred in the township. 

Bluff Lodge, No. 605, I. 0. 0. F, was organized at Cook's Mills in 1875. 
A charter was granted from the Grand Lodge to J. H. Crumm, Joseph Perry, 
David Perry, James Hamilton. George Crurae and John R. Hamilton as char- 
ter members. Joseph Perry was appointed N. G. ; James Hamilton, V. G. ; 



496 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTT. 

John R. Hamilton, Sec. ; and J. H. Crumm, Treas. The Lodge has a mem- 
bership of sixty. Stated meetings occur Saturday evenings of each week. Present 
officers, William Hammer, N. G. ; John Wilson, V. G. ; E. Gilbert, Sec; J. L. 
Skidmore, Treas. ; and J. H. Crumm, Deputy G. M. for the Lodge. Liberty 
Lodge, in which is conferred the degree of Rebecca, was organized in 1878, and 
has a membership of twenty-nine. Regular meetings Wednesday evenings 
before full moon in each month. These societies meet for the transaction of 
business pertaining to the order in the lodge-room, over D. A. Crumm's store. 
The present officers of Liberty Lodge are: Amanda Hougland, N. G. ; Eliza- 
beth Wright, V. G. ; La Fayette Alamah, Sec. ; and Mary A. Crumm, Treas. 
While we have not seen fit to set apart and write up Cook's Mills as a vil- 
lage, it is no more than proper and just that we should speak of its advantages 
to the township. The saw and grist mill, with a well-selected stock of goods, 
the post office, a blacksmith and wagon shop, render it the center of attraction 
for the township, and the point at which most of the business is transacted ; 
and but for the lack of railroad facilities, it would, at no distant day, 
grow into a village of considerable importance. But isolated as it is from 
all other places of importance, with no avenues of ingress or egress except 
dirt roads, and these much of the .season almost impassable, it must ever remain 
as it now is, a point of interest alone to the citizens of the immediate vicinity. 
In closing this section of our history, we can safely say that for industry and 
enterprise, for social and moral worth, the citizens of Okaw rank second to those 
of no other portion of the country. 



PARADISE TOWNSHIP. 

This township is situated in the extreme southwest corner of the county, 
and is bounded on the north by Mattoon Township ; ea.st, by Pleasant Grove 
Township ; south, by Cumberland County, and west, by Shelby County. In its 
primitive state, before the timber and underbrush were cleared away, for the 
earliest-made farms, three-fourths of iis surface were woodland to one-fourth 
prairie. Its surface is for the most part rolling, and easily admits of drainage. 
The Little Wabash, a stream rising a little south of the center of Mattoon 
Township, flows in a southern direction through the western half of the town- 
.«hip, and, with its tributaries, effectually drains the central and western portions. 
Dry Grove Run, a small stream rising in the nortiieast corner of the township, 
and flowing south through a belt of timber of the same name, affords drainage 
for the eastern half The extreme eastern and western portions are prairie, 
while the timber is found lining either side of the Little Wabash. There is, 
however, a small belt of timber in the eastern portion called Dry Grove, the aver- 
age width of which does not exceed one-half mile, and its length not more than 
two miles and a half How it acquired its name, Dry Grove, we have not been 
able to determine. The soil, for the most part, is of a deep-black cast, very 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 497 

rich, and produces well. The soil of the woodland, in the eastern portion, 
reduced to a state of cultivation, exceeds in richness and fertility even the adja- 
cent prairie. Like the surrounding townships, it is well adapted to the growth 
of the various cereals, but corn is the staple product. The western portion pro- 
duces fine wheat, and, for the past few years, quite an amount has been sown. 
Taking it one season with another, those possessing woodland farms are much 
surer of a good crop, than those upon the prairie, as the soil is generally more 
rolling, and of such a character as to withstand either a wet or dry season 
better. Much valuable timber has been removed from her groves, since the 
days of the early pioneers, and still 'there is much remaining. In different 
parts may be seen large tracts of woodland, from which the underbrush has 
been removed, well set in blue grass, which yields excellent pasturage. The 
Chicago Branch of the Illinois Central Railroad enters che township at the 
northeast corner of Section 3 and passing through in a general southwestern 
direction, leaves it at or near the center of the southern boundary of Section 
21. The Grayville & Mattoon Railroad just touches the northeast corner of 
the township. Paradise contains no cities or towns, and but two small villages. 
Paradise and Etna, neither of which is incorporated. Of these, we will speak 
more specifically at the close of the township history. To offer, as a complete 
history of this section of the county, only what may be truthfully written of 
the township since reduced to her present limits, would be an act of great injus- 
tice to the descendants of her pioneers ; and yet, the early history and settle- 
ment are so intimately blended with that of the surrounding townships that to 
separate them with any degree of accuracy will be a task attended with no little 
labor and difficulty. Soon after the formation of Coles County, the territory 
comprising it was divided into three voting precincts, Charleston, Woodbury 
and Paradise. Paradise, at that time, included in addition to its present limits 
all the territory now embraced in Mattoon and Pleasant Grove Townships, a 
portion of North Okaw and a large scope of country in the present limits of 
Cumberland County. Thus we find that the name Paradise, as applied to a 
portion of the county, was almost cotemporary with the formation of the 
county itself. At a later date, we find it became necessary, in order to retain 
it, to submit it to a vote of the citizens. In the division of the county into 
townships, Paradise was made a full Congressional township ; but a few years 
later, when Cumberland County was erected, she was shorn of her two southern 
tiers of sections ; this gave her her present limits, four miles north and south 
by six east and west. When the question of naming the township came before 
the people, two parties appeared in the field. The one, led by H. B. Worley, 
proposed the name Wabash, while the other, headed by Aaron W. Hart, adhered 
to the ancient landmark, and voted for. Paradise. Hart and his friends carried 
the day. It is said by some, that as the village of Etna was just then start- 
ing up, and Worley was largely interested in her welfare, he designed, if 
the name Wabash carried, to go before the Commissioners, and, through his 



498 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

personal influence, secure a change from Wabash to Etna. A decided majority in 
favor of Paradise put a quietus on all further proceedings in the matter of name. 

EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

No little difficulty has been experienced in the attempt made to determine 
when, where and by whom the first settlement was made in the township. The 
statements of the oldest citizens of the present day are very much at variance 
on this point. The claims of one Daniel Drake seem to be more fully established 
than those of any other, and perhaps to him may be justly accorded the honor 
of building the first cabin and making the first improvement in what is now 
Paradise Township. Thomas Hart, son of Miles H. Hart, still resides in the 
village of Paradise, and from him we have gained the following statement of 
facts: In the fall of 1826, the Hart families came from Hardin County, Ky., 
to Wayne County, 111., with a view to settling there. Silas Hart had settled in 
Wayne County as early as 1822. Disappointed in their expectations, the 
Harts determined to prospect the country further north, with the avowed inten- 
tion of returning to Kentucky should they fail in their attempts to find a desir- 
able location. In the winter of 1826-27, Miles H., Moses and Thomas Hart, 
Jr., left Wayne County and came north. On reaching that portion of the Little 
Wabash timber now included in Paradise Township, they determined to locate. 
Moses and Thomas, both single men. remained, and, during the winter, con- 
structed a cabin, near the site of the present residence of W. B. Ferguson, on 
what is now known as the Cunningham farm. Miles H. returned to his family 
in Wayne County, and, in March, 1827, Uncle Tommy and wife. Miles H. and 
family, came and occupied the cabin erected by Moses and Thomas. Soon after 
coming, they found, about four miles west of them, on the bank of the Little 
Wabash, about one mile south of the site of the present village of Paradise, Daniel 
Drake, from Tennessee, and from the appearance of his improvements, Mr. 
Thomas Hart is of the opinion that he must have come as early as the fall of 
1825 or the spring of 1826. Settlements were made, no doubt, at an earlier 
date on the South Kickapoo, in what is now Pleasant Grove Township, east of 
the Hart settlement ; but the evidence is pretty conclusive that Drake was the 
first man to make an improvement in Paradise Township. It is maintained by 
some that one Thomas Wilmuth, a sort of second-rate shoemaker, had built and 
occupied a cabin or half-faced camp east of the Hart settlement, and prior to 
their coming, in March, 1827, and that he made the first settlement in the town- 
ship. His claims, however, seem not to be so well authenticated as those of 
Drake. In June, 1827. Charles Sawyer, who is rec()rded as the first settler of 
Mattoon Township, stopped a few days at the Hart settlement, and then moved 
north and west to his place of settlement. The settlers of 1827 were Daniel 
Drake, Uncle Tommy Hart and his sons Miles H., Moses and Thomas. There 
may, indeed, have been two or three other families, but, if so, their names have 
been lost or are incorporated with those of a later date. In Filiruary, 1S28, 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 499 

Silas and Jonathan Hart, the two remaining sons of Uncle Tommy, came up 
from Wayne County, and settled near their father. During the year, there was 
quite an influx of population. Among the number dating back to that period, 
we find the names of Jefferson Coleman, Jacob Slover, Isaac Slover and his son 
Jacob Slover, Jr., then a young man, Ichabod Radley and his sons Nicholas, 
Samuel, Hiram and Barney, familiarly known as Shoot, Jacob Bales and his 
sons Jonathan, Mace and Levi. Most of these were men of families. The 
Slovers, Radleys and Coleman were from Kentucky ; the Bales families came 
from Tennessee. These all settled in the timber east of the Little Wabash. 
In the fall of 1829, Dr. John Apperson and family, George M. Hanson and 
David Hanson came in. Dr. Apperson came direct from Virginia, while the 
Hansons, brothers-in-law, had come from the south part of the State. Apper- 
son purchased a small cabin from John Graham, a son of Rev. James Graham, 
one of the early pioneer preachers, whose history is given in connection with 
Mattoon Township. This cabin stood in the timber about one hundred yards east 
of the roadbed of the L C. R. R. He paid for it the magnificent sum of $21, 
an amount of ready cash not possessed by one in twenty in that early day. Here 
he lived through the winter of 1829 and 1830. In the spring of 1830, he moved 
his cabin to the edge of the timber and broke and put in cultivation thirty acres 
of prairie. George M. Hanson located the farm now owned by John E. Trem- 
ble, and David Hanson the farm on which Dr. Apperson passed nearly fifty 
years of his life. And here an incident of pioneer life occurred which is well 
worth preserving. David Hanson, desiring to move to the National Road, 
which was then in process of construction, offered to sell his improvements to 
Dr. Apperson. The Doctor made the purchase, with the view of entering both 
Hanson's and his own improvements, so soon as the land should come into market. 
Befoi-e this was done, however, a man of the name of Ike Walker, encouraged 
by Sylvester Dunbar, his brother-in-law, having learned of Dr. Apperson's 
purchase, and that his own improvement was not yet entered, posted off to Van- 
dalia, the seat of government, and, taking the necessary steps, " entered him 
out." Soon the fact became noised abroad, and, in their indignation, the set- 
tlers, a few nights afterward, came with their teams, loaded up the Doctor's 
goods, tore down and loaded up the cabin, with every other vestige of improve- 
ment, and moved all to his late purchase. They even went so far as to kill a 
dog and throw its bodj' into the well, with other rubbish. Having severed its 
head from the body, they placed it upon a pole and set it up in front of Dunbar's 
cabin, where Walker was stopping. This simple device was full of mean- 
ing, and, as it was a work in which the very best men of the entire neighbor- 
hood had played a leading part, Walker felt that, for the sharp game he had 
played, he had been ostracized. He made no improvement, and soon left the 
country. Dunbar tarried a few years later, and then also left. 

The year 1830 brought into the settlement a number of families. From 
Kentucky, came William Bryant, James T. Cunningham and his mother-in- 



500 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

law, Mrs. Yocum, with her sons Ambrose and Thornton, and her daughters 
Fanny and Mary Jane. Her other daughters, Catharine, wife of Miles H. 
Hart, and Eliza, wife of Jefferson Coleman, had preceded her. While these 
settlements were being made along the eastern edge of the Wabash timber, 
and in the vicinity of what is now called Dry Grove, we find settlements multi- 
plying ; also on the west of Wabash River. As early as 1828, a man of the 
name of Joseph Smart made an improvement near the present village of Para- 
dise. Whence he came, or what became of him, no one seems to know. 
Farther west, we find as early settlers, the Currys, Moores, Mclntoshes, Alex- 
anders, Crosses, Brinegars, Champions and others. Some of these came as 
early as 1828 or 1829, and all were among the early settlers of the country. 
A very large percentage of these early pioneers were from Kentucky. A few. 
however, came from Virginia, some from Tennessee, and still others from North 
Carolina. About the years 1831 -and 1832, the Gannaways, Norrises and 
Kabbs put in their appearance. From this date forward, additions were con- 
stantly made to the various settlements, and to attempt to give the exact date, 
the names of parties, or the order in which they came, would be a work of 
supererogation. 

Of the early settlements, it may not be out of place to remark that all were 
made either in, or very near, the timber. The monotony of the vast stretche> 
of prairie on either hand were unbroken by the appearance of a single human 
habitation. Indeed, the early settlers never expected to see these broad and 
fertile plains reclaimed from their native wildness and reduced to rich product- 
ive farms. But, in a few short years, the tide of emigration swept by. and far 
away from timber on the open prairie, where once it was thought impossible 
that man should abide and gain a sustenance, the humble cabin was erected, 
the tough and matted sod was overturned and the golden corn rustled and 
waved in the autumnal breezes. 

The people of to-day living in comfortable homes, equipped with the many 
improvements and inventions of modern times and beautified and adorned by 
art, have but faint conceptions of the difficulties and privations endured by the 
early settlers of this Western country. Most of them were men of large fam- 
ilies, and poor in this world's goods ; but they were men of stout hearts and 
willing hands, and, leaving the older-settled portions, came here in the fond 
hope of bettering their condition. The first care of the early settler, on arriv- 
ing at the end of his wearisome journey, was to provide for himself and family 
a suitable shelter from the bleak winds and pelting storms. Their homes, as a 
a matter of course, were of rude construction, but, by certain appliances well 
known to the pioneer, they were made very comfortable, and to-day many an 
old pioneer recounts as among the happiest days of his life those spent beneath 
the clapboard roof of his little old log-cabin. The homes of the early settlers 
presented to the eye much the same appearance both internally and externally ; 
their chief difference consisted in size, most of them being single, while a few 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 501 

■were built double. As the manner of constructing them has been accurately 
portrayed in other portions of this work, we deem it unnecessary to particularize. 
A house provided, next came the necessity of laying in supplies for man and 
beast. Game of all kinds abound on every hand. Deer, turkeys, rabbits, 
squirrels, quails and such like, were here in plenteous profusion. The faithful 
dog and the unerring rifle seldom fail to bring the fat buck and plump, rich 
turkey to the cabin-door. Meat is easily supplied, but bread, the mainstay of 
life, is not so readily obtained. Corn is far away in the older settlements and 
must be brought by that fast express of early times, the ox-team. And when at hand, 
often the settler must make a pilgrimage of twenty-five to thirty miles to mill 
and wait a day and night for his " turn." And, gentle reader, should you 
wonder why the old pioneer speaks so often of the " johnny-cake " and hoe-cake, 
to the utter disregard of the snowy, light bread and flaky biscuit which you so 
much enjoy, let me remind you that one biscuit to each member of the family 
on Sunday morning of each week, or, perchance, once a month, was a luxury 
that few families enjoyed. Around the rude table, often consisting of a goods- 
box turned on its side, loaded with venison or fat turkey, with his johniy^-cake, 
smoking-hot from the board, and that added luxury, wild honey, obtained from 
the bee-trees near his cabin, the pioneer, with his family, sat down ancj fared 
sumptuously every day. Generally speaking, the pioneers were men of simple 
habits, noted for their liospitality. They knew how to receive and bestow a favor. 
In this age of cultivation and refinement, they would, doubtless, be regarded by 
many as rude and uncouth ; but this was not the fact. The latch-string of 
their cabin-doors hung out by day, and this was a standing invitation to enter 
and share their comforts. Often a simple act of kindness has resulted in the 
establishment of a friendship between those who were strangers at the time 
which has remained unbroken throughout remaining life. Such an instance 
occurred in Paradise Township in an early day. Soon after the coming of Dr. 
Apperson, Silas Hart, in passing near his cabin, concluded to call and form the 
acquaintance of the new-comers. Riding up to the cabin, he discovered Mrs. 
Apperson weeping and in great distress. Exchanging the usual salutations with 
the Doctor, Hart inquired, " How are you prospering, and how do you like your 
new home?" The Doctor replied that he was well pleased, but that his wife, 
was fearful that starvation would overtake them, as their only supply was a 
small amount of meal. Without a word of encouragement or sympathy, Hart 
turned about his horse and rode away. In speaking of this in after years, Dr. 
Apperson often remarked that, at that time, he looked upon Hart as a man in 
whose soul there was no sympathy. Hart had not been long gone when the 
clear, ringing report of his trusty rifle resounded through the woods. He had 
sighted a fine, fat doe, and the game was his. Hastily removing the entrails, 
he placed the deer on his horse, in front of his saddle, and, in half an hour from 
the time of his departure, he again rode up to the Doctor's cabin, and, tumbling 
off his load, quietly rode away, leaving the Doctor in full possession. From 



502 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

this simple act, there grew up a firm friendship between these two men which 
remained unbroken for almost half a century. Dr. Apperson was Hart's 
family physician as long as he lived, and for all his services he would never 
receive one cent of compensation. 

But from this digression, we must hasten back to the main thread of our 
history. The early settlers of Paradise Township were highly favored in many 
respects, above others who settled in other parts of this and adjacent counties. 
About the year 1830 or 1831, Jacob Slover, who had settled in 1828, opened a 
store in one department of his double log cabin, then standing on what is now 
known as the Moffett farm. This was the first store opened in Paradise Town- 
ship, and, indeed, in all this section of country. Here the settlers came for 
miles around to barter their products for such wares and merchandise as they 
most needed. Wild honey was abundant in those days, and was taken in 
exchange for goods at the rate of eleven pounds to the gallon. In speaking of 
this honey, Mrs. Dr. Apperson, who is still living, says it had a much better 
flavor than any produced at the present day, and that, in appearance, it was so 
pure and white that strangers before whom it was placed often mistook it for 
lard. Some time after the opening of the store, Isaac Slover, a brother to the 
merchjjint, built a horse-mill in the immediate neighborhood. In point of speed, 
this was a great improvement on the grater and hominy-mortar. In a few years, 
these became obsolete, and were only preserved as relics of the past. Though 
the horse-mill, as has been said, was a wonderful improvement on the former 
methods of obtaining meal, yet it by no means equaled the water or steam 
mills of to-day. To grind out a grist of two bushels required a full day. Para- 
dise was blessed with a steam-mill as early as 1838; but as its history belongs 
more properly to the history of Paradise village, we will defer writing it till the 
village history is reached. 

The spiritual and intellectual culture of themselves and their children was 
by no means neglected. Many of them were men of deep religious con- 
victions, and not a few were acceptable proclaimers of tlie Gospel of 
Peace. Among the early preachers may be mentioned the names of Revs. 
James Graham, George M. Hanson, Daniel Bryant, Miles H. Hart, Hiram 
Tremble, Dr. John Apperson, Clemence Goar and others, who are worthy of 
being here recorded, but whose names have passed from memory. Meetings 
were held in an early day in the cabins of Miles Hart, Dr. Apperson, John 
Sawyer and others, and when they met, the men clad in their homespun and 
the mothers and daughters in their linsey-woolsey, it was not for the young 
sisters to discuss and criticise the latest fashions, or for the boys to ogle the 
girls, but to engage in solemn devotion to the Giver of all good. Simplicity 
of manners was characterized by simplicity of dress, which, though plain, was 
always neat. After a week of hard, laborious toil, it was esteemed a blessed 
privilege to be permitted to ride five or six miles, on horse-back, to engage in 
hymning songs of praise to God and to hear the sweet words of Gospel truth, as they 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 503 

were read and expounded by some revered brother. These were not the days 
of cushioned pews, in which the audience lazily dreamt tlie hour away, but, 
gathered beneath the roof of the humble cabin, seated on backless benches, of 
rude construction, men, women and children gave earnest attention to the 
preached Word. The impressions made by those early and earnest workmen 
in the vineyard of the Lord were lasting, and their influence for good has been felt 
through the ongoing years. Most of the early ministers in this section were 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the many flourishing socie- 
ties of that denomination to-day throughout this section of country bear testi- 
mony to their early labors. The first church built in Paradise was in Dry 
Grove ; the exact date of building cannot be ascertained. In 1860, the pres- 
ent church, a neat, substantial frame, was erected. Two others are in the 
township, one in Paradise village and the other in Etna. 

The schoolmaster put in his appearance in an early day, and, as schools 
were supported by individual subscriptions, the first schools were taught in the 
most populous neighborhoods. The first school in the township was kept by a 
Mr. Drake, and some of his pupils, still living, state that he was by no means 
a successful teacher. The second school was kept by a Mr. Kellai', near the 
residence of Miles H. Hart. To those already given may be added the names 
of William Mofiett, David Campbell and Ebenezer Alexander. To-day, the 
township is provided with comfortable schoolhouses in each district, and the 
children enjoy the benefits accruing from our well-regulated school system. 

Going back a little in point of time, we find the winters of 1830, 1831 and 
1832 wei'e very cold. The last of November, 1830, there came a fall of snow 
of thirty-two inches in depth, which remained until March. About the middle 
of February, it rained part of two days, reducing the snow to a slush, and sud- 
denly turning cold, froze the water and soft snow into ice. The whole face of 
the country was one continuous sheet of ice. Great diflSculty was experienced 
in caring for stock, as it was obliged to be cared for just where the freeze 
caught it. It was a complete blockade, and the only way they had of provid- 
ing fuel was for the men to draw it from the timber on hand sleds, as horses 
and oxen could not be moved about over the smooth surface. Notwithstanding 
the difficulties with which they were environed, they often had days of real 
enjoyment. Three or four neighbors, accompanied by their trusty rifles and 
all the dogs they could muster, would often engage in what was called the 
"deer drive." As the fleet-footed deer could not stand on the smooth, glassy 
surface, and as the dog could make good headway, few that were started up 
succeeded in making good their escape. It was not an unusual thing to capt- 
ure some half dozen in a single day ; and so, however meager might be the 
supply of breadstuff", there was no lack, of fat, juicy venison. 

When, in 1832 and 1833, the whole Western frontier was thrown into 
wild commotion by the re-appearance of Black Hawk and his warriors, although 
the call for troops to repel the invaders did not include the young county of 



504 HtSTOKY OF COLES COUNTY. 

Coles,' yet there were brave hearts in Paradise Township that flew to the rescue 
of their imperiled countrymen. The following-named persons went from this 
township: Thomas Ross (Captain), John Shadwell, Thomas Studer, John 
Young, Moses Hart, Jonathan Hart, John C. Jones, David Hanson,- Trusse 
Hanson and Thomas Hayes. There were others, doubtless, whose names have 
passed from memory. Mrs. Dr. Apperson has in her possession the snuft-box 
of the renowned warrior, taken from his wallet by her brother, David Hanson, 
and by him presented to Dr. Apperson, on his return from the war. The 
meteoric display of 1833, and the sudden freeze of 1836, have been treated at 
such length in other portions of this work, that we feel justified in passing 
them by without comment. 

As early as 1830, George M. Hanson circulated a petition for and 
obtained from the Government the establishment of a post office. Mr. Hanson 
was the first Postmaster, and the office was first kept at his house on the farm 
where J. E. Tremble now resides, in the northeast corner of the township. It 
was called Paradise Post Office, and was afterward removed to Slover's store, 
thence to Richmond, in Mattoon Township, and finally to Paradise Village, 
where it has since remained. This was the first post office established in what 
is known as the Wabash Point settlement, and diSers in some points of its 
history as here recorded, from the account given in the history of Mattoon 
Township, and is, perhaps, the more accurate statement of the two. 

The first burial that occurred in the township was that of James Nash, who 
died at his home in Mattoon Township, December 24, 1829, and was buried on 
Christmas Day, just across the line in Paradise Township, a short distance south 
of where Capp's mill now stands. The second was that of Grandma Bush, a 
very elderly lady, whose grave was the first opened in Dry Grove Cemetery. 

At the first election held in the county for county officers. Paradise fur- 
nished her full quota of candidates and secured the election of a large number 
of them. George M. Hanson was chosen a member of the Board of County 
Commissioners, Ambrose Yocum was elected first Sherifi", Ichabod Radley, first 
Coroner, and Nathan Ellington was appointed first County Clerk. This office 
Mr. Ellington held afterward by successive i-e-elections, till 1853 or 1854, 
when he lost his life by violence at the hands of Dolph Munroe, his son-in-law. 
The following account is given of Mr. Yocum's election as Sheriff. The elec- 
tion was held at the residence of a Mr. Ashmore, in Kickapoo Point. A can- 
didate from the Kickapoo settlement was making the race for Sheriff. . Early 
in the day, Aslimore made the remark thnt his fire was free to all who would 
vote for his candidate. This speech at once aroused opposition. Some of the 
Harts and others built a log heap, declared that their fire was free to all, and 
immediately put in nomination for Sheriff, Ambrose Yocum. Then the con- 
test began in earnest, and at the final sumraing-iip of the votes it was ascer- 
tained, to the great satisfaction of his friends and to the utter discomfort and 
chagrin of the Kickapooites, that Yocum had been elected by a handsome 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 505 

majority. Among others of her citizens, who, at an early date, were honored 
with political preferment, were James T. Cunningham and George M. Hanson. 
Cunningham was a member of the Legislature eight years in succession. 
Hfinson was chosen to the Legislature in 1842, and two years later — 1844 — 
was sent to the State Senate. In 1846, he was a candidate for Congress, but 
was defeated by Hon. T. R. Young, at present a resident of Mattoon. George 
M. Hanson figures so largely in the early history of Coles County, and his mem- 
ory is so highly revered by the citizens of this township that there is seem- 
ingly a demand for more than a passing notice of his acts. The early settlers 
of Kickapoo, Muddy and Wabash Points, were included in the limits of Clark 
County, and as the county seat at Darwin was at a distance of fifty miles from 
the northwest corner of the county, they experienced no little difficulty in 
attending to legal proceedings. In 1829, soon after coming, Hanson drafted 
and circulated a petition for the erection of a new county, which should con- 
tain within its limits the settlements of the above-named places. He was made 
bearer of the petition to the seat of Government, then at Vandalia. Through 
his own personal influence, seconded by that of Col. William B. Archer, then 
a member of the Legislature as Senator from Clark County, he succeeded in 
getting the bill passed, and in less than two weeks returned home with a 
certified copy of the bill in his pocket. 

As soon as the Governor approved the bill, Mr. Hanson went to the land 
office and entered the first tract of land ever purchased in Coles County. He 
was the intimate associate of Dr. John Apperson, Elisha Linder, Eben Noyes, 
Sr., and others of the leading settlers ; and being, perhaps, the ablest and most 
cultivated man in all this section, became the leader in the intellectual arena of 
those early days. Soon after the establishment of the Charleston Courier, he 
became a valued contributor to its columns, and his suggestions were almost 
universally accepted by the early settlers. Whatever he believed would advance 
the interests of his county and the welfare and prosperity of her citizens, met 
his earnest encouragement. The grand wolf-hunt which he organized in an 
early day will not soon be forgotten. Hs proposed that the settlers on all sides 
should assemble in the edge of the timber, and, spreading out, move over the 
prairie in which Mattoon now stands, toward Dodge (now Herkimer's) Grove, 
and that each should so time his advance as to reach the grove precisely at 12 
on the day appointed. The settlers from all parts came, and the hunt was 
instituted. The wolves, driven from their secret hiding-places, would dart away 
to the opposite side of the prairie only to find a cordon of men and dogs drawn 
completely around them, and thus hemmed in, with the boundaries continually 
contracting, a large drove was corraled in the grove, where expert marksmen 
picked them off" as they were driven out by the dogs. That wolf-hunt was 
among the memorable events of those early days, and is still referred to with 
pleasure by those who participated in its fun and frolic. Hanson was a minister 
in the ranks of the M. E. Church, and, surpassing most of his brother minis- 



506 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

ters in power and vigor of thought, was justly regarded as a leader. In 1849, 
he emigrated to California. He died in that State in the latter part of 1878. 

Dr. John Appereon was the first physician in all this section of country. 
He was born in Culpeper County, Va., January 8, 1794, and died at his home 
in Paradise Township, June 5, 1877. He came here, as has been elsewhere 
stated, in the autumn of 1829. Here he spent over forty years, engaged in 
the duties of his profession. His practice was large, and often he was called to 
attend the sick at a distance of twenty-five miles from his home. He was highly 
esteemed as a practitioner, and even after he had repeatedly declared his inten- 
tion to retire from active life, and his unfitness through age and infirmity to 
longer serve his friends and neighbors, yet the old settler, when afflicted with 
disease, would suffer no one to prescribe for his ailments save the good old 
Doctor. As a novel way of collecting a bill, the following may not be out of 
place : On a certain occasion, when the Doctor was called to visit a patient 
on the east side of the North Okaw, he had thought to cross the stream and 
collect some bills. The stream was bank-full and past fording, and, unfort- 
unately, no canoe was at hand. The Doctor being sadly in need of a little 
money, and seeing one of his patrons across the stream, politely asked him for 
his bill. The man, having procured a suitable stick, proceeded to cut a hole in 
one end with his knife ; and having placed some bank-bills in the cavity thus 
formed, fastened up the opening with a wooden plug, proceeded down the stream 
some distance to a narrow place and threw stick, money and all across to the 
Doctor. 

After the adoption of township organization, in 1860, the following officers 
were chosen in Paradise Township : John Hendrix, Henry Burgher and 
A. Y. Hart, Jr., Commissioners of Highways ; Adam W. Hart, Supervisor ; 
James H. Wilson, Collector ; R. B. Tate, Assessor ; John Campbell, Town 
Clerk ; J. W. P. Deckard and Blaine Matthews, Justices. 

By way of closing our township history, we would add that the mineral 
wealth of Paradise Township lies to-day wholly unexplored. Doubtless rich 
deposits of coal are underlying much of her territory. Veins, varying in 
thickness from four to seven feet, have been passed through in Mattoon Town- 
ship, just north of her, but at such a great depth l)elow the surface as to render 
their successful working impracticable, especially so since such an abundance 
yet exists in different parts of the State much nearer the surface and far more 
easily accessible. To reach it here would require the sinking of a shaft to a 
depth of from four hundred and fifty to five hundred feet. A number of rich 
specimens of copper ore liave been picked up on Section 4 of this township. 
One in the possession of J. W. Doran, of Mattoon, would yield from 75 to 80 
per cent of pure metal. Future explorations and developments may reveal the 
fact that a rich deposit of ore exists there. We shall now pay our respects to 
the villages of Paradise and Etna, and, with their history, conclude this part 
of the work. 



HISTORY OF COLES COUIITY. 507 



PARADISE VILLAGE. 



On the principle that age should be venerated, we will proceed to trace the 
history of Paradise first ; a history extending through a period of forty odd 
years, and which must be comprised in the short space of a page or two. This 
village, situated in the northwest corner of the township, and often facetiously 
referred to by the citizens of to-day as " Paradise Lost," was surveyed and 
platted by Joseph Fowler for Miles W. Hart and Clemme Goar, in the spring 
of 1837. In order to procure the erection of a steam-mill at this point on the 
Little Wabash, Thomas Brinegar and David Moore had made to Hart and Gear 
a donation of forty acres of land, and on a portion of this, adjacent to the mill- 
site, the town plot was laid. James T. Cunningham was at that time a member 
of the Legislature at Vandalia, and to him was accorded the honor of naming 
the place. He called it Paradise, and it was so recorded. Soon after the lay- 
ing-out of the village, a public sale of lots occurred, and some $500 or $600 
worth were disposed of. In the fall of 1836, Hart came from Kentucky on a 
visit to friends and relatives living in Wabash Point, and on his way called to 
see Mr. Goar, his brother-in-law, who was then living in Indiana. While here, 
he perfected the arrangements for building a mill and starting a town. He 
afterward induced Goar to take an interest with him. He returned to Ken- 
tucky, and, in the winter of 1836, came back with his family. Mr. Goar, with 
his family, came early in the spring of 1837. The first citizen of the place 
was Pleasant Hart, who built his residence and occupied it during the winter of 
1836. In the spring of 1837, Hart and Goar each constructed a mud house, 
and the same spring began the erection of their mill. This was the first steam- 
mill built in all this section. During the summer, they raised the frame, 
covered it in and arranged for running one set of corn buhrs and a saw. It 
had been in operation but a short time when it caught fire and burned 
down. The loss was total, there being no insurance either upon the building 
or machinery. Having received liberal donations from the citizens in aid of 
the loss sustained, in 1839, they again built upon the same site, at a cost of not 
less than $5,000. This mill was operated some eight or ten years. Not long 
after the completion of the second mill. Hart sold his interest to his brother, 
Aaron Hart, and at the end of six months he disposed of his interest to 
Mr. Goar. In 1845, Goar sold out to George M. Hanson, who operated it 
about one year and then sold to Bird Munroe. Munroe continued the work 
one year longer and then moved the machinery up to Charleston. Thus Para- 
dise lost her greatest and best improvement. Miles W. Hart brought and sold 
the first goods in the village. He is not, however, regarded as the first mer- 
chant, as he simply brought what he did for the purpose of supplying the hands 
while engaged in constructing the mill. Bird Munroe opened out the first store 
about the year 18-42 or 1843. Soon after, John Cunningham moved his stock 
down from Richmond in Mattoon Township. Others, of smaller pretensions, 



508 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTF. 

from time to time essayed to play the merchant. Sam Pullen started a tan- 
jard about the time Paradise was laid out, and a Mr. Gear opened a blacksmith 
shop. Miles W. Hart put up the first storehouse and was, perhaps, the first 
Postmaster. A brick church was erected by the Methodist society in 1853 or 
1854. This has since been removed and rebuilt on the hill just west of the 
village and is called Mount Zion Church. The new building was erected in 
1869, at a cost of $2,500, and has a capacity for seating 300 persons. Before 
the building of the church, public worship was held at the house of Uncle 
Clemme Goar. Schools may have been, and probably were, kept in the village 
at different times, but so far as we have been able to learn no building was ever 
erected for that special purpose. The post oflSce, as has been said, was brought 
from Richmond to Paradise, in an early day, and here it has since remained. 
A. Y. Hart, Sr., is the present Postmaster. The mail is carried twice per week, 
on horse-back from Etna to Paradise. Wabash Lodge, No. 179, A., F. & A. 
M., was organized here under dispensation from the Grand Lodge in 1855, but 
as it has since been removed to Etna, its history will be given in that con- 
nection. When, in 1854, the I. C. R. R. was finally located about one mile 
and a half east of Paradise, her star of destiny began rapidly to decline. Mat- 
toon sprang into existence at the crossing ; a station, a few years later, was 
established at Etna. Trade flowed into other channels ; soon her merchants 
deserted her for fields promising a more abundant harvest, and she was left 
alone to weep over blighted prospects and buried hopes. Once she was the 
pride and joy of the surrounding country, now her name is often spoken with a 
jeer. Yet, in the midst of her distresses, she can truthfully say to the proud city 
of Mattoon, with her boasted 6,000 inhabitants, "long before tliou wast, / 
existed." At one time Paradise counted her citizens by the hundred; had four 
good stores, shops of difierent kinds and was a place in which much business 
was transacted. Now her citizenship does not exceed fifty; she has a very 
small grocery store operated by William Morrison & Son, and one blacksmith 
and wagon repair shop owned by Hiram Surber. In her case, at least, there 
seems to be a clear demonstration of the truthfulness of that seemingly para- 
doxical expression, that to kill a thing effectually, it is sometimes only neces- 
sary to miss it. Had the railroad passed through Paradise village, she had still 
been living; but passing by as it did, it effectually destroyed her. 

ETNA. 

A small village on the I. C. R. R., seven miles southwest of Mattoon, was sur- 
veyed and platted by James Richards, County Surveyor, on land belonging to 
Daniel R. Bland and Richard Sayer. in March, 1860. Harry B. Worley and 
Robert S. Mills secured each a one-fourth interest by purchase, and, soon after, 
E. B. McClure (now General Superintendent of the L & St. L. R. R.), who 
■was at that time Roadraaster on the L C. R. R., was given a one-fifth 
undivided interest for his influence in securing a station. The citizens of 



HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 509 

the surrounding community, at their own expense, put in the switches and 
side-track. The village is situated on the adjoining corners of Sections 15, 
16, 21 and 22 in Paradise Township. Soon after the laying-out and plat- 
ting. Bland built a residence and occupied it. Others soon followed, and 
Etna rapidly grew from a station into a village. Isaac Hart and his son James 
L. Hart, Mrs. Veach, Dr. Deckard, J. F. Lawson and James Elhart were 
among the earliest citizens. As early as the winter of 1860, Isaac Hart & 
Son opened out a stock of dry goods and groceries. They moved their stock 
over from Paradise. This was the first store kept in the place. Soon after 
the coming of Hart & Son, Cornelius Owens, of Charleston, opened up a 
stock of hardware, groceries and liquors. This enterprise was managed by 
Robert S. Mills. In February, 1861, J. F. Lawson bought out the senior 
member of the firm of Hart & Son, and the firm of Hart & Lawson was 
established. In the early part of May, 1862, Hart & Lawson sold out to 
Charles Sawyer, of Neoga, and a short time afterward, Lawson purchased the 
establishment started by Cornelius Owens. He rolled back the building in 
which the store was kept and built a new front. This building was since destroyed 
by fire. After conducting the business alone for six months, Dr. Deckard 
became a partner. Deckard died in February, 1863, and J. R. Wortham 
took his interest. They added to the business that of buying and shipping 
grain. In 1865, Lawson bought out the business, and continued it till 1867, 
when he sold to a Mr. Percy, and he to James Bishop, a brother of Dr. Bishop, 
who now resides in Etna. Norris & Allen built a store-room in the early part 
■of 1864, and brought on a stock of general merchandise. S. Vanderen & 
Son began business about the same time, and a short time afterward Dr. S. D. 
•Gardner erected a building and opened out a drug store. 

In 1860, a neat frame church was built by a general contribution from the 
citizens and friends of the town, and is free for the use of all religious denomi- 
nations. The Masonic Hall occupies the second story of this building. A 
schoolhouse was built in the village in the summer of 1868. James Richard- 
son began the first session taught in the building, but died while the school was 
in progress, and Dr. S. D. Gardner, finished the term. At one time Etna had 
four stores, and did quite an extensive grain business. On a commission of 
5 per cent, Mr. Lawson says his receipts for handling grain often amounted 
to $80 per month. Her population at present does not exceed one hundred. 
She has one small store, that of Montgomery & Tate, and two smith shops. 
The post oflice was established in 1860, and Robert S. Mills was appointed 
Postmaster. He was also the first agent for the R. R. Co. at this point. J. 
F. Lawson was made Postmaster and agent on the retiring of Mills, and held 
the position till he removed from the village. The post ofiBce and ticket office 
are both now kept in the store of Montgomery & Tate. Wabash Lodge, No. 
179, A., F. & A. M., as has been elsewhere stated, was organized in Paradise 
village. Its charter bears date October 3, 1855, issued under the seal of the 



510 HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. 

Grand Lodge, presided over at that time by J. L. Anderson, G. M., and H. 
G. Reynolds, G. Sec. The charter was issued to Augustus H. Chapman, 
Newton W. Chapman, A. W. Waller, Dr. John Apperson and others as char- 
ter members. A. H. Chapman was appointed W. M. ; N. W. Chapman, S. 
W. ; and A. W. Waller, J. W. The meetings of the Lodge were held for a 
time in the second story of the mud house built by Miles W. Hart in 1837. 
The Lodge continued to meet in Paradise till 1860, when, by a vote of the 
Lodge and by consent of the Grand Lodge, it was moved to Etna. Its present 
officers are: B. H. Lawson, W. M.; Col. T. A. Apperson, S. W.; J. F. Wool- 
dridge, J. W. ; A. L. A. Green, Sec. ; J. W. Montgomery, Treas. ; Joseph 
Carins, S. D. ; H. II. Anderson, J. D. Its membership numbers about fifty. 
Regular meetings, Friday night on or before full moon each month. Two dif- 
ferent methods of spelling the name of the village seem to be fully recognized. 
The citizens, and Government, through the Post-Office Department, seem to 
accept as correct orthography Etna, while the R. R. Co. inv.iriably adopts the 
spelling iEtna. But whether we use the single vowel or the diphthong at the 
beginning, we are inclined to believe that neither will materially add to or 
detract from the prosperity of the village. 



VALEDICTORY. 

Friendly reader, our task is done — not well, we know, but truly. To you 
who have followed us through these pages, and especially to the old pioneers 
and patriarchs, whose heads are " silvered over with the frosts of many winters," 
we come now to part, never, perhaps, to meet this side of the tomb. Our inter- 
course with you is of the pleasantest character, and it is with a feeling of sad- 
ness that we bid you adieu, each to go his way, mingling in the great world 
as the tiny raindrops mingle with the waters of the sea. Should our diverging 
planets never more cross each other's orbits, and we meet no more here — and it is 
more than probable that we shall not, for our work lies in another direction — we 
crave your kind remembrance of us and a generous criticism of our work. 

Adieu. 




i 



BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES 



CHARLESTON TOWNSHIP. 



CAPT. WM. E. ADAMS, attorney at 
law, Charleston ; was born in Bedford Co., 
Tenn., Oct. 15, 1830, being the sou of 
John J. and Martha (Gammell ) Adams, 
who came to Coles Co. in December, 18.^0, 
settling in what is now Pleasant Grove Tp., 
on the farm where his father still resides ; 
he made his home at his father's until 
about 1855, when he engaged in buying 
and herding stock, and driving it to Wis- 
consin ; he continued in this business 
until 18G0. He was married in August, 
1859, to Miss Olive A. Holton, of Blue 
Mounds, Wis., and has a family of five 
children — John H., Jennie ,^^., Sarah S., 
Willie and Helen. He had previously 
read law and been admitted to the bar, and, 
in 1860, located in Mattoou and entered 
upon the practice of his profession ; in 
August, 18(52, he enlisted in the 123d 111. 
Vols., and on the organization of the regi- 
ment was chosen Captain of Co. I ; he 
participated in the battles of Perryville, 
Ky., Milton, Tenn., Chattanooga and 
Chickamauga, after which, his regiment, 
having previously been attached to Wild- 
er's Brigade of Mounted Infantry, pur- 
sued Gen. Wheeler, who was then making 
a raid on the rear of Gen. Roseorans' 
army ; his regiment had a severe engage- 
ment at Farmington, Tenn., in which the 
Colonel was killed and fully half of Capt. 
Adams' company cither killed, wounded 
or taken prisoners, and where the Captain 
himself was wounded ; after participating 
in the capture of Atlanta, his regiment 
wiis remounted at Louisville, Ky., and 
proceeded thence to Selma, Ala., and, after 
the capture ot that city, to Montgomery, 
Columbus and Macon, Ga. ; a portion of 



his command assisted in the capture of JefF. 
Davis, the President of the defunct Con- 
federacy. Returning in July, 1865, he was 
elected in the fall of that year Clerk of the 
County Court of Coles Co., and re-elected 
in 1860 ; on the espiration of his term of 
office in 1873, he was elected County 
Judge, serving till 1877, since which he 
has been engaged in the practice of law. 
He was for three years a member of the 
City Council, and is the present Secretary 
of the Coles County Old Settlers' Society. 
CAPT. JAMES M. ASHMORE, 
Charleston ; is a native of Coles Co. ; he 
is a son of Hezekiah J. Ashmore, one of 
the pioneers of the county, who was born 
in Kentucky, Sept. 30, 1802, and came to 
Coles Co. with his family, consisting at 
that time of a wife and two children, in 
18:>0, and settled in the northeast part of 
the county, in what is now Oakland Tp. ; 
in 1836, he removed to the eastern part 
the county, and for him the town of Ash- 
more was named, ;is well as the village of 
that name, which he laid out in 1855 ; he 
came to Coles Co. a poor man, with but 
thirty-seven and a half cents in his pos- 
session, but went to work and as fast as 
he accumulated a little money, he invested 
it in land, owning at his death, which oc- 
curred in 1872, about 1,600 acres; he 
was for many years a Justice of the Peace, 
and one of the Commissioners of the 
county. He left a family of ten children, 
of whom James M. is the second in age. 
He was born April 4, 1832 ; he remained 
at home on the farm until 1859, when he 
engaged in merchandising in Charleston. 
In 1861, he entered the Union army as 
Captain of Co. C, 8th III. Vols., for three 



512 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



months, and on the expiration of his term 
of service, re-enlisted with his regiment for 
three years ; he was wounded at the battle 
of Shiloh, upon which he resigned and 
returned home ; upon the organization of 
the 123d 111. Vols., he was appointed Drill- 
master, and drilled that regiment for six 
months. In 1865, he located at Ashmore, 
and followed mercantile business there 
two jears, and then engaged in shipping 
stock until 1876; he served six years as 
Justice of the Peace, and seven years on 
the Board of Supervisors ; in 1876, he was 
elected Sherifl' of Coles Co., holding the 
office two years. He was married March 
26, 1852, to Mi.ss Lizzie March, daughter 
of Thomas J. March, an old resident of 
Charleston. 

W. J. ASHMORE, dealer in boots 
and shoes (firm of Ashmore & Mitch- 
ell), Charleston ; was born in Coles 
Co., 111., May 15, 1853; he is the 
youngest son of Samuel C. Ashmore, 
who came to Coles Co. among the early 
settlers, and entered a large tract of Gov- 
ernment land, and when Douglas Co. was 
formed, the line passed through the mid- 
dle of his land ; he was a prominent farm- 
er and stock-raiser, and for many years 
held the office of Justice of the Peace. He 
died in 1855 ; his widow Sarah Ashmore 
and six children still surviving. The son, 
W. J. Ashmore; when about 20 years of 
age, went to Lebanon, Ohio, and spent 
one year as a student in the State Normal 
School. In 1874, he came to Charleston 
and engaged as a clerk for B. M. Payne, and 
on the 1st of January, 1878, engaged with 
A. M. Mitchell in the boot and shoe trade. 
He was married Oct. 2, 1878, to Miss 
Belle Arterburn, of Kan.sas, Edgar Co., 
111. 

KANDALL ALEXANDER, breeder 
and shipper of Poland-China swine, 
Charleston ; about ten years ago this gen- 
tleman, in company with S. M. Shepard, 
made his first start in the introduction and 
breeding of thorough-bred swine in Coles 
Co. After having experimented thor- 
oughly with the various breeds of hogs, 
they became convinced that the Poland- 
China possessed all the requisites of size, 
docility, fertility, early maturity, aptitude 
for taking on flesh, and gi'cat constitution- 
al vigor, necessary to render it pre-emi- 
nently the hog for the farmer. From a 



small beginning, the business has grown to 
its present proportions. Mr. Alexander is 
now one of the most prominent breeders in 
the State ; his trade extends to every part 
of the country, to the Pacific Coast, Canada, 
the Southern States, etc. ; his farm, near 
Charleston, possesses all the advantages of 
a perfect hog farm, such as pure running 
water, sheltered location, shade, range, etc. 
Mr. Alexander was born in Madison, Jef- 
ferson Co., Ind., Aug. 5, 1842; when 
about 10 years old, he removed with his 
parents to Tipton Co., Ind. ; at 14, he left 
home, and going to Louisiana, Mo., en- 
gaged as a clerk in a dry goods store. In 
1861 , he went to Tuscola, Douglas Co., 111., 
and clerked one year ; he then, with Mr. 
Robert Beech, built the Beech House, the 
finest hotel on the Illinois Central Railroad, 
from Chicago to Cairo ; after running the 
house one year he came in 1863 to Charles- 
ton, and continued clerking till 1865, when 
he engaged in business for himself, con- 
tinuing as a member of different firms un- 
til about four years ago ; he is at present a 
member of the Board of Aldermen iu 
Charleston. He was married May 21, 
1866, to Miss Nancy A. Compton, a 
daughter of Albert Compton, of Charles- 
ton, and has four children — Albert C, 
Edwin R., Rufus C. and Dora T. 

JACOB I. BROWN, Justice of the 
Peace, Charleston ; a son of John and Ra- 
chel Brown ; was born Oct. 12, 1819, near 
Jonesboro, Washington (Jo., Tenn. ; his 
parents afterward removed to Wayne Co., 
Ind., but soon returned to Tennessee ; 
their nest move was to the White Water 
River, where his father and eight brothers 
and sisters died I )f yellow fever inside of a 
few months. His mother soon afterward 
removed with her remaining children, con- 
sisting of three sons and one daughter, to 
Bloomington, Ind. In 1832 or 1833, he 
went to learn the printing business, and 
worked for different parties till 1840, 
when he came on foot to Paris, 111., and 
bouglit the Illinois Stutcsmnn printing 
office, and began the publication of a Dem- 
ocratic newspaper; in 1844, he moved the 
office to Charleston, and started a paper 
called the Invtstiyalor, in connection with 
which he published a religious periodical, 
edited by Rev. Richard Newport. In 1845, 
he was elected Assessor for the county. He 
was married June 24, 1845, to Miss Ana 



CHARLESTON TOWNSHIP. 



513 



E. Ji.vins, who was born near Alexandria, 
Va., and after the death of her ftitber, re- 
moved with her mother to Vincennes, Ind., 
and after her mother's death, came to 
Charleston, and resided in the ftimily of 
her uncle, Albert Compton. In 1846 or 
1847, in company with W. D. Latshaw, he 
began the publication of the 7//i'/toi's Glohe, 
a Democratic paper, continuing it seven or 
eight years ; in the mean time, he was ap- 
pointed Postmaster, and held the office un- 
der Presidents Polk, Pierce and Buchanan. 
He was also engaged with various partners 
in the grocery and drug business till the 
spring of 1861 ; in the fall of that year, he 
was elected County Clerk, and held that 
office four years, after which he en- 
gaged in the mercantile business. On the 
2d of May, 1868, he Nvas commissioned 
Justice of the Peace by Gov. R. J. Ogles- 
by, and re-elected to the same office in 
1872, and has served as such ever since ; 
he has been several times a member of the 
City Council, and served twice on the 
Board of Education, and is now a member 
of the School Board for the township. 

EUGENE B. BUCK, editor and pro- 
{irietor of the Charleston Courier, Charles- 
ton ; was born in Fayette Co., Ind., Oct. 
12, 1834; when he was about five years 
old, his father's family removed to Mc- 
Lean Co., 111. ; he served his apprentice- 
ship to the printer's trade in Bloomington ; 
in 1852, he went to Peoria, 111., and, in 
1855, was connected with the publication 
of the Pekin Plaindealer ; in 1856, he 
was associated with four other journeymen 
printers in running a co-operative daily 
paper in Peoria ; in 1857, he conducted 
the Washington Advertiser, in FrankHn 
Co., Mo. ; in 1859, he edited the Built/ 
Enterprise, in Decatur, 111., and, in 1861 
and 1862, the Magnet in that city ; in 

1864, he run the Constitution, a campaign 
paper, in Pontiac, Livingston Co., 111., 
and, the next year — 1865 — he started the 
Bloomington Journal; in 1868, he be- 
caine connected with the Charleston Cour- 
ier, a live weekly newspaper and a vigorous 
advocate of the principles of the Demo- 
cratic party, and, in 1874, became sole 
proprietor and editor ; the esteem in which, 
Mr. Buck is held by .the editorial pro- 
fession is manifest from the fact that, in 

1865, he was chosen President of the 
Illinois Press Association, a member of 



the Executive Board in 1877, and is at 
present a Vice President of that body ; 
he is a Director of the Second National 
Bank ; in 1 876, he received the nomination 
as Representative to the State Legislature, 
but, owing to disaffection, withdrew from 
the contest ; for nine years, he has been a 
member of the Board of Supervisors, and 
was for seven years Chairman of the 
Board ; he has also been a member of the 
Board of Education of this city. He was 
married Feb. 11, 1860, to Miss Mary C. 
Jones, of Decatur, 111., and has four chil- 
dren — Ida May, Katie Florence, Willie 
Clarence and Eugene Clifford. 

A. N. BAIN, proprietor of the Charles- 
ton Foundry, Charleston ; was born in 
Erie Co., Ohio, April 3, 1828; his father 
was a ship-carpenter, with a family of nine 
children ; at the age of 14, Mr. Bain be- 
gan working on a farm, which he contin- 
ued until the spring of 1845, when he 
entered the Mad River & Lake Erie Rail- 
road shop at Sandusky, Ohio, as an ap- 
prentice, remaining there until 1852, and 
thoroughly mastering the machinist's 
trade. He then went to New Albany, 
Ind., where he was married, Feb. 3, 1853, 
to Mlss Catharine Caldwell, of that city, 
who was born in Appomattox Co., Va., 
Feb. 8, 1832. While in New Albany, he 
worked as a mechanic in the shops of the 
New Albany & Salem Railroad ; in April, 
1853, he removed to Terre Haute, Ind., 
and entered the foundry of Grover & 
Madison, and remained in their employ 
until April 1, 1857; he then came to 
Charleston, and, with his brother, William 
Bain, and George 0. Carr, erected a small 
building, 25x50 feet in size ; Mr. Carr 
soon retired from the firm ; they ran a 
general repair foundry till 1863, when 
they made their first stove, and enlarged 
their buildings, which now cover four town 
lots, while their trade extends from In- 
dianajiolis on the east, to the Rocky 
Mountains on the we.st; in 1869, Mr. 
Bain engaged in the stove, tin, and house- 
furnishing business, and built up a very 
large and successful trade ; in 1874, he 
sold out and returned to the management 
of the foundry ; his brother died in June, 
1875 ; in addition to his foundry bu.siness, 
he owns a farm of 220 acres in Seven 
Hickory Tp., where he is largely engaged 
in stock-raising, keeping about two hun- 



5U 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



dred and fifty liead, including cattle, hogs, 
horses and mules ; he also owns a farm of 
170 acres in Douglas Co.; Mr. Bain was 
President of the Board of Trustees of 
Charleston two years. He has five chil- 
dren — Emma ( a graduate of the Indiana 
State Normal School at Terre Haute, and 
now a teacher in the Charleston public 
schools), Fannie, Charles F., Katie and 
Nannie. Politically, Mr. Bain has been an 
active advocate of the principles of the 
Republican party since its organization, 
previous to which he was a Whig. He is 
outspoken and fearless in maintaining his 
opinions ; as a business man, his success is 
due entirely to his own industry, persever- 
ance and good management. 

TILLMAN BAGLE^, horticulturist; 
Charleston ; was born in Loudoun Co., 
Va., June fi, 1828; being left father- 
less when but a child, he accompanied his 
mother, at the age of 9 years to Mus- 
kingum Co., Ohio, where they settled on a 
farm about twelve miles north of Zanes- 
ville ; at 19, he left the farm to learn 
the trade of a marble-cutter, after com- 
pleting which he worked as a journeyman 
until 1853 ; he then came to Charleston, 
and after working two years, started in the 
marble business for himself, in which he 
continued till 1809; at which time, he 
purchased what is known as the True farm, 
in La Fayette Tp., and followed farming 
four years. Having a natural taste for 
horticultural pursuits he sold his farm and, 
returning to Charleston, purchased sixteen 
acres of land lying within the corporation, 
which he began to improve ; he built his 
residence and set his land to peaches, apples, 
raspberries, blackberries and strawberries; 
his aim was to secure the very earliest as 
well as the very latest varieties of fruit 
which it was possible to obtain, thus com- 
manding the highest prices for his prod- 
ucts. Mr. Bagley was m.arried March 
26, ISotj, to Miss Ann Craig, a daughter 
of Elijah Craig, an early settler of Coles 
Co. ; she was born in Boone Co., Ky., 
April 21, 1829, and came to Coles Co. in 
1836; they have two children — Simeon 
E. and Allen C. 

GEORGE BIRCH, farmer; P. 0. 
Charleston ; Wiis born near Shrewsbury, 
Shropshire, England, March 25, 1815; he is 
a son of William Birch, a farmer who, in 
1833, came to America with his family, 



and lived for three years near PhUadelphia, 
occupying an old house, once the residence 
of VVilliam Penn, on the bank of the 
Schuylkill, near Fairmount Park ; in 1836, 
they removed to Illinois, and settled near 
Hitesville, Coles Co.. where his father died 
April 15, 1864, at the age of 88 years ; 
Mr. Birch spent the first few years of his 
residence in this county in working at farm 
labor ; he has worked for 50 cents a day 
and waited until Christmas for his pay. 
He wa.s married on his twenty-sixth birth- 
day, March 25, 18-11, to Miss Catherine 
Jones, a daughter of William Jones ; she 
was born in Jefi"erson Co.. Ky., March 19, 
1820, and came with her parents to Coles 
Co. about 1831 ; in 1814, they settled on 
a farm near Hitesville, where they resided 
for more than thirty-three years, and. in 
1878, removed to Charleston, where they 
now reside ; Mr. Birch, in 1842, hauled 
wheat to Chicago, a distance of ISU miles, 
and there sold it for 62 J cents per bushel; 
he has driven hogs to Clinton, [nd., and 
sold them for SI. 25 to S2 per hundred, 
net weight ; Mrs. Birch, when a girl, has 
dropped corn for 25 cent* a day; and, aft- 
er her marriage, worked in the field until 
near noon, and would then go to the 
house and get dinner. Mr. Birch Ls an 
example of a substantial, successful farm- 
er, and feels a pardonable pride in recall- 
ing to mind the hardships of the early 
days in Coles Co. ; he has recently pur- 
chased the Glassco farm of 300 acres, two 
miles west of the Court House, and still re- 
tains 40 acres of land in Ashmore Tp.; 
he has served a.s School Director and 
School Trcitsurer. They have had twelve 
children, eight of whom are living — Will- 
liam, a resident of Ashmore Tp., Jacob, 
of St. Clair Co., Mo., Martha J. (now 
Mrs. Lafayette Connelly, of Henry Co.. 
Mo.) (jeorge and Jonathan ( both now of 
Henry Co., Mo.), Lizzie I']., Frank and 
Mary 8. 

CHARLES R. BRIGGS, portrait- 
painter, Charleston ; was born in Wash- 
ington Co. N. Y., Jan. 5, 1816; hi.-* 
father was a farmer and carriage-manufact- 
urer in Easton ; at the age of 17 years, he 
left home, and going to Troy, apprenticed 
himself ta the trade of a coach-painter ; 
he remained there four ye irs and helped 
to paint the first passenger -couches on the 
Albany & Schenectady R lilroad ; thence 



CHARLESTON TOWNSHIP. 



515 



he went to Buffalo, N. Y., and entered the 
employ of Benjamin Rathbone, the great 
contractor of that city ; about a year later, 
he went to New York City, and thence, 
shortly afterward, came West ; this was 
in 1839 ; afler spending a few months in 
St. Louis, he located in Coles Co., and, 
after farming one year, engaged in car- 
riage, house and sign painting in Charles- 
ton. He early turned his attention to 
portrait painting, for which he had a de- 
cided talent, and for the past few years has 
made a specialty of the painting of fine 
stock, a branch of the art in which he is 
excelled by none in the State ; he started 
the first livery-stable in Charleston about 
1843, with one horse, and continued it 
about a dozen years, running it up to forty- 
two horses ; in 18-18, he opened a farm of 
363 acres in the timber adjoining the city, 
fencing it in eastern style, mostly in ten- 
acre lots, and followed farming for several 
years. He was married in September, 
1842, to Mlss Harriet Stoddert, of Charles- 
ton ; they have five children living — 
Lyzink (wife of Charles Cleary, of Charles- 
ton), Helen, Walter M., Charles S. and 
May ; their oldest daughter, Loretta, died 
in 1859 ; Mary died at about 2 years of 
age, and one .son, Jerome, died in 1873. 

STEPHEN BISHOP, farmer and 
stock-raiser, P. 0. Charleston ; was born 
near Providence, R. I., May 30, 1815; 
when he was but 2 years old, his parents 
emigrated to the then Far West, and 
located in Knox Co.. Ohio, where his 
father entered land from the Government, 
and engaged in farming, being among the 
pioneers in that part of the State ; Knox 
Co. was then comparatively a wilderness ; 
Mt. Vernon, the county seat — now a city 
of about 10,OOtHnhabitants — containing at 
that time but half a dozen houses ; Mr. 
Bishop remained at home on the farm until 
he was 20 years of age, and then learned the 
trade of a blacksmith, and going to Mt. 
Vernon, carried on the carriage-making 
business there until 1858, when he re- 
moved to Illinois, and settled on a farm 
lying mostly in Coles Co., his house, how- 
ever, being situated just over the line in 
Clark Co. ; in the spring of 1863, he re- 
moved to a farm in Seven Hickory Tp., 
containing 248 acres, on which he con- 
tinued to reside until September, 1876, 
when he removed to Charleston, still re- 



taining his farm in Seven Hickory Tp., and 
twenty acres of timber in Charleston Tp. ; 
Mr. Bishop served one term as Justice of 
! the Peace. He was married Feb. 25, 
1841, to Miss Joanna Bane, of Knox Co., 
Ohio, who was born in Washington Co., 
Penn, Oct. 8, 1822 ; they have seven 
children — Jasper N., now of Lovington, 
111. ; Frank L., of Charle.ston ; Anna A., 
wife of G. H. Harvey, of Newark, Ohio ; 
Minnie M., Lizzie C, Charles E. and 
Willie B. 

FRANK L. BISHOP, proprietor of 
the Bee- Hive store, dealer in dry goods 
and notions, boots and shoes, etc., Charles- 
ton ; was born in Mt. Vernon, Knox Co., 
Ohio, Nov. 20, 1846; he is a son of 
Stephen and Joanna (Bane) Bishop, and 
came with his father's family to Coles Co., 
as above stated ; he was engaged as a clerk 
for Mathews, Alexander & Co., in Charles- 
ton, for three years, after which he spent 
three years in La Fayette, lud; he then en- 
gaged in general merchandising in Loving- 
ton, 111., the firm being Dickson & Bishop; 
after remaining there three years, he re- 
turned to Charleston and established his 
present business in September, 1876. 

MAJ. J. A. CONNOLLY, attorney at 
law, Charleston ; was born in Newark, N. 
J., March 8, 1838; his parents removed 
to Chesterville, Morrow Co., Ohio, when 
he was about 12 years old, and at the age 
of 18, he went to Mt. Gilead, the county 
seat of Morrow Co., and began reading 
law with Judge A. K. Dunn, of that city ; 
he was admitted to the bar in September, 
1859, and began practice in Mt. Gilead; 
in 1860, he removed to Charleston ; while 
living in Mt. Gilead, he held the position 
of Second Assistant Clerk of the Ohio 
Senate for two ye;irs. In August, 1862, 
he entered the army as Major of the 123d 
111. V. I., serving till the close of the war, 
being for two years Inspector General of 
the 3d Division 14th Army Corps; he 
participated in the battles of Perryville, 
Ky. ; Milton, Tenn. ; Hoover's Gap, Chick- 
amunga, Mission Ridge, Resaca, Ga. ; the 
Atlanta campaign, Sherman's " march to 
the sea," Bentonville, N. C, etc.; im- 
mediately after the last-named battle, he was 
brevetted Lieutenant Colonel for meritori- 
ous conduct in that engagement. Return- 
ing to Charleston, in 1865, he resumed the 
practice of the law. At the funeral of 



516 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



President Lincoln, in New York City, in 
April, 1865, Maj. Connolly was a mem- 
ber of the G uard of Honor, being the only 
Illinois volunteer officer present. In 1866, 
he was elected a member of the Board of 
Supervisors, and, the following year, of the 
Board of Education, and strongly advo- 
cated the building of the new schoolhouse 
in Charleston ; he was elected to the Il- 
linois Legislature in 1872, and re-elected 
in 1874 ; he was a member of the Judiciary 
Committee, and of the Railroad and Ware- 
house Committee, which reported in favor 
of the Granger legislation of that year. 
Maj. Connolly is at present U. S. District 
Attorney for the Southern District of Il- 
linois, to which office he was appointed by 
President Grant in March, 1876. He was 
married Feb. 9, 1863, to Miss Mary Dunn, 
of Mt. Gilead, Ohio. 

DUNN & CONNOLLY, attorneys at 
law, Charleston ; this firm was established 
in November, 1878, and is composed of 
two youni: attorneys, but gentlemen pos- 
sessing the requisite qualifications of suc- 
cess. Frank K. Dunn was born in Mt. 
Gilead, Ohio, Nov. 13, 1854, being a son 
of Hon. A. K. Dunn, Judge of the Court 
of Common Pleas ; he graduated at Ken- 
yon College, Ohio, in 1873 ; read law in 
his father's office ; entered Harvard Law 
School in 1874, graduating in 1875; he 
was admitted to practice the same year, 
and practiced with bis father until Novem- 
ber, 1878, when be came to Charleston, 
and formed the above partnership. Frank 
J. Connolly is a native of Morrow Co., 
Ohio ; he was born in Chesterville, March 
10, 1851 ; he came to Charleston in 1876 ; 
pursued his law studies in the office of his 
brother, Maj. James A. Connolly; was ad- 
mitted to the bar in July. 1 878, and formed 
a partnership with F. K. Dunn in Novem- 
ber the same vear. 

D. H. CALVERT, dealer in drugs and 
medicines, Charleston ; is a native of ■ 
Platte Co., Mo. ; he was born on the 28th 
of February 1841 ; he was raised on a farm, 
and at about the age of 16 years, entered 
Pleasant Ridge College in his native town, 
where he graduated in ISGl ; he then read 
law with Hon. E. H. Norton, the present 
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of 
Missouri; in 1867, he went to Frankfort. 
Ky., and continued his law studies with ' 
Judge Alvin Duval, and, in 1868, entered : 



the Law Department of the University of 
Louisville, Ky., graduating in 1869; he 
came to Charleston the same year, and en- 
tered upon the practice of his profession ; 
in 1872, he was elected City Attorney ; 
after practicing three years, he was com- 
pelled by ill health to abandon the law 
and engage in other business ; he followed 
merchant milling for some two years, and, 
in 1876, engaged in his present business. 
He was married July 5, 1870, to Miss S. 
B. Chambers, a daughter of T. G. Cham- 
bers, a prominent citizen of Charleston, 
and has one child — George C. Calvert. 

W. M. CHAMBERS, M. D., physician 
and surgeon, Charleston, was born in Cyn- 
thiana Ky., April 11, 1814; he is a son 
of James and Sally Chambers, both natives 
of Pennsylvania, who settled in Kentucky 
in 1810. His father was a soldier in the 
war of 1812; in 1850, his parents re- 
moved to Charleston, where his mother 
died in 1855, and his father in 1873. Dr. 
Chambers began the study of medicine 
in his native town in 1833, and, in 1836, 
began practice in Harrison Co. ; he gradu- 
ated in 1843 from the Medical Depart- 
ment of Transylvania University, Lex- 
ington, Ky. In 1846, he removed to 
Covington, Ky., where he practiced 
medicine until his removal to Coles Co. in 
1855. In October, 1861, he was ap- 
pointed, by President Lincoln, Brigade 
Surgeon in the Union army, and served 
in the army of the Cumberland till July, 
1865; he was twice brevetted — first, as 
Lieutenant Colonel, and then as Colonel, for 
meritorious services, for the excellence of 
his reports and his superior management 
of hospitals. Dr Chambers has been Pres- 
ident of the Kentucky State Medical 
Society, of the Illinois State Medical 
Society, and of the ^Iseulapian Society of 
the Wabash Valley. He has held important 
positions in the American Medical Associ- 
ation, and has been a member of the 
Health Association of the United States; 
he has abandoned the ordinary country 
]iractice, and now confines himself to con- 
sultation, town and surgical practice. He 
was married, first, in February, 1838, to 
Miss C. Ann Rebecca Porter, of Harrison 
Co., Ky. ; she died in 184U, leaving one 
son — Charles S. Chambers, of Princeton, 
Ky. Dr. Chambers, in 1846, married 
Miss Mary Bryan Fields Ingels, of Ken- 



CHARLESTON TOWNSHIP. 



517 



tucky, a lineal descendant of Daniel Boone ; 
she died Dec. 30, 1876, leaving two chil- 
dren— MoUie M. S. (wife of Dr. C. A. 
Peyton, of Charleston"), and T. Gavin 
Smith Chambers, now a student in Asbury 
Institute, Greencastle, Ind. 

THOMAS G. CHAMBERS, Presi- 
dent of the First National Bank, Charles- 
ton ; has been a resident of this county 
and city since 1838; he is a native of 
Cynthiana, Harrison Co., Ky. ; he was 
22d of January, 1816, being a son of 
James and Sally Chambers ; he worked 
on a farm until the age of 18 years, when 
he entered a dry goods store as a clerk, 
and continued at that until he came to 
Charleston, as above stated. He followed 
clerking here for a time, and, in 1840, 
engaged in the dry goods business for 
himself, which he continued, with an inter- 
ruption of two years, until 1866 ; he then 
established the private banking-house of 
T. G. Chambers & Co., and, in 1868, be- 
came President of the First National 
Bank. Mr. Chambers has served several 
terms in the City Council, but, with this 
exception, has never sought nor accepted 
public office of any kind ; he has, how- 
ever, been thoroughly alive to the interests 
of the city and county ; he was one of 
the active organizers of the Coles County 
Agricultural Society — now the Coles 
County Board of Agriculture — and has 
been an officer of that society, either as 
Vice President, Treasurer or Director, with 
the exception of one year, from its organ- 
ization in 1853 to the present time. On 
the organization of the Coles County Old 
Settlers' Society in October, 1878, he was 
chosen President. Mr. Chambers was mar- 
ried March 12, 1840, to Miss Olevia 
Monroe, of Charleston, and has eight chil- 
dren living — Alice (now Mrs. J. A. 
Parker), Henrie, Sarah Belle (wife of D. 
H. Calvert), George R., William M., 
Maggie, Nannie and Alfred, all of whom 
are residents of Coles County. 

ALBERT COMPTON, retired, 
Charleston ; one of the early settlers of 
Coles county ; was born in Fairfax Co., 
Va., Sept. 24, 1812 ; in the fall of 1830, 
he left home and came to Vincennes, Ind., 
thence to Terre Haute, and from the latter 
place, in 1833, to Charleston, arriving on 
the 3d of March ; he worked at his trade 
of a shoemaker for about two years, and 



then engaged as a clerk in the employ of 
Baker & Norfolk ; in 1835, he was elected 
Constable and served two years ; in August, 
1838, he was chosen Sherift' of Coles 
County, which office he held four success- 
ive terms of two years each, or eight years 
in all ; on the expiration of his term of 
office, he engaged in the dry goods trade, 
which he followed until 1861, when, hav- 
ing accumulated a comfortable competency, 
he retired from active business ; he has 
also held the offices of Justice of the Peace 
and Master in Chancery. He owns some 
280 acres of land in Coles Co., and two 
business houses and a dwelling in Charles- 
ton. He was married in January, 1836, 
to Miss Catherine Easton, daughter of the 
late David Easton, of Charleston ; they 
have five children living — Rhoda, now 
Mrs. S. M. Shepard, of Indianapolis, Ind. ; 
Nancy, wife of Randall Alexander, of 
Charleston ; Rufus, Mary, wife of Felix 
Johnston, of Charleston, and Allie. 

ISAAC N. CRAIG, retired farmer; 
P. 0. Charleston ; one of the early settlers 
of Coles County ; was born in Montaomery 
Co., Ky., Sept. 25, 1810; his "father 
removed with his family to Illinois in 1828, 
and purchased a farm in Clark Co. ; Isaac 
N. remained at home on the farm until 
1831. On the 14th of April, 1831, he 
was married to Miss Catherine Henson, of 
Edgar Co., 111., who died May 1, 1841, 
leaving five children, three of whom are 
living — La Fayette, Elizabeth — Mrs. Har- 
mon Gregg — and Harriet, wife of Harvey 
Fowler ; Mr. Craig, after his marriage, 
settled in Clark Co. On the breaking-out 
of the Black Hawk war, Mr. Craig 
enlisted in the 2d Brigade, under Gen. 
Milton Alexander, and served through the 
war. In 1835, he removed to Coles Co., 
where he has been a prominent farmer and 
stock-raiser ever since ; Mr. Craig began 
life poor, and has met with some reverses 
of fortune, but has, nevertheless, accumu- 
lated a handsome property ; he owns some 
seven hundred acres of land in the county, 
and a fine residence, with twenty acres of 
land, in the city of Charleston, where he 
resides ; he is a Director and stockholder 
in the Second National Bank. He married 
his present estimable wife July 1, 1841 • 
she was Miss Elizabeth Bloyer, of Coles 
Co. ; they have had eight children, six of 
whom are now living — Catherine (wife of 



518 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



Eobt. McMullen), James W., Andrew J., 
Eliza E. ( wife of Newton Swango), Isaac 
B. and Thomas J.; all of Mr. Craig's 
children are living in Coles Co. 

COL. A. P. DUNBAR, retired, Charles- 
ton ; with one exception, the olde.st living in- 
habitant of the citj ; was born in Fleming 
Co., Ky., July 4, 1810 ; his father, Alexan- 
der Dunbar, was a soldier in the war of 
1812 and participated io the battles of the 
River Raisin and the Thames, and was pres- 
ent at the famous Perry's victory on Lake 
Erie. The subject of this sketch, after 
receiving an English education and read- 
ing law to some extent, came to Clay Co., 
111., in 1828, at the age of 18 years, and 
engaged in teaching ; after two years, he 
returned to Kentucky, where he completed 
his law studies, and was admitted to the 
bar in the spring of 1831 ; he at once came 
to Coles Co., located at Charleston, and 
began the practice of his profession, which 
he continued for forty-six years ; he was 
the first lawyer in the counties of Coles, 
Cumberland and Douglas ; he a.ssisted in 
carrying the chain at the second survey of 
lots in Charleston in 1831. On the break- 
ing, out of the Black Hawk war iu 1832, 
he received a commission as Colonel and 
rendered valuable service in recruiting and 
forwarding the troojis from this vicinity. 
In 1832, he was appointed Circuit Clerk 
and Recorder to fill out an unexpired term; 
in 1834, he was elected Justice of the 
Peace, and lu^ld that office eight years ; in 
1836 and 1837, he represented Coles Co. 
— then including Cumberland and Douglas 
Cos. — in the State Legislature, and occu- 
pied the same seat with the lamented 
President Lincoln, Hon. Stephen A. Doug- 
las being also a member of the same House ; 
he was again elected to the Legislature in 
1 844, serving two years ; he was ap- 
pointed, in 1870, Prosecuting Attorney, to 
fill out the unexpired term of Gen. John 
Boyle, and has held other offices of trust, 
among which may be mentioned that of 
Police Magistrate from 18G8 to 1874. 
Col. Dunbar was first married in 1834 to 
Miss Ellen Monroe, a native of Glasgow, 
Ky. ; she died in 1835; and on Sept. 
27, 1830, he married Mrs. Susan F. 
Harrison, the widow of Matthew T. Har- 
rison, of Kentucky ; they have had eight 
children — Alexander Mason Dunbar (of 
Charleston), Mary Ellen ( now Mrs. I. N. 



Cutler, residing in Missouri), Imogene 
Caroline (afterward wife of Bruce Ander- 
son, and who died in 1870j, Lucian Syl- 
vester (of Charleston), Albert Perry (who 
died in 1876), Lucy Arabella (now Mrs. 
Wm. 0. Peake, of Charleston), Susan 
Virginia (who died when less than 2 
years of age) and Charles Ulysses, of 
Charleston. Col. Duubar's law library, 
together with many valuable papers, was 
destroyed by fire in 1877, upon which he 
retired from practice. Col. Dunbar was 
an Old Line Whig, and joined the Repub- 
lican party on its organization in 1856 ; 
he stumped the county and vicinity for the 
Republican candidates at every Presidential 
election since that time ; he is a fluent, 
effective public speaker and an able lawyer. 
JEWELL DAVIS, M. D., physician 
and surgeon, Charleston ; was born in Athens 
Co., Ohio, Oct. 27, 1811 ; he was raised on a 
farm, and followed that calling until about 
1838, when he removed to Middleport, 
Meigs Co., Ohio, having a few years pre- 
viously married Miss Cynthia Jones, of 
that place ; they have three children — 
Mary V. (wife of E. L. Kelly), Curtis L., 
Teller of the First National Bank, and 
Reuben J., all of whom are residents of 
Coles Co. Dr. Davis followed coopering 
and carriage-making for a while in Middle- 
port ; owing to illness in his family, he was 
induced to study medicine, studying suc- 
cessively all the various systems of practice 
— allopathy, homeopathy, eclecticism, hy- 
dropathy and chromo-thermalism, and 
during his forty years' jiractice he has con- 
fined himself to no particular .school, but 
has seized upon auy remedy, from whatever 
source, which would accomplish his object 
— the relief of the patient and the cure of 
di.sease ; his favorite system, however, is 
the eclectic ; Dr. Davis came to Charleston 
in 1854, and began practice with Dr. A. 
M. Henry, now of Mattoon, with whom 
he also engaged in the drug business ; 
after a few years, Dr. Henry disposed of 
his interest to Dr. H. C. Barnard ; he 
afterward practiced with Dr. H. R. Allen, 
now oni! of the proprielurs of the National 
Surgical Institute of Indianapolis, and 
with Dr. J. B. Denman up to the begin- 
ning of the war, since which he has prac- 
ticed alone ; Dr. Davis is also largely in- 
terested in bee culture, having about a 
hundred colonies, and is the inventor of 



CHARLESTON TOWNSHIP. 



519 



the queen nursery for propagating queen 
bees. 

JACOB K. DECKER, far. and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Charleston ; was born in 
Knox Co.,Ind., Aug. 7, 1817 ; his parents, 
Isaac and Margaret Decker, were Vir- 
ginians, and left that State in 1811, and 
were living in Fort Knox, on the Wabash, 
when the battle of Tippecanoe was fought; 
when he was 7 years old, his father died, 
and at about the age of 15, he was appren- 
ticed by his guardian to a merchant in 
Crawford Co., 111.; in 183G, he came to 
Charleston and engaged in the grocery 
business, with a capital of $250 ; about 
two and a half years later, he went to 
farming, which ho has continued, in con- 
nection with other business, to the present 
time; in 1842, he engaged in the dry 
goods trade, which he followed until 1855 ; 
he then farmed exclusively until 1859, 
when "he resumed the dry goods business, 
continuing till 1863, since which time he 
has been engaged solely in farming and 
stock-raising; he owns a fine farm of 750 
acres adjoining the city on the north, al- 
though he resides in the city, where he 
owns a good residence with ten acres of 
land ; he also owns a fine brick store on 
the east side of the public square, occu- 
pied by S. Barnes, besides which he owns 
250 acres of land in Northern Iowa. In 
politics, he is a Republican. He has served 
one term on the Board of Supervisors, and 
for over twenty years has been Treasurer 
of the Coles County Board of Agriculture. 
He was married Sept. 23, 1839, to Miss 
Mary A. Morton, daughter of the late 
Charles S. Morton, of Charleston ; they 
have 7 children living — Charles V. (of 
Hutchinson, Kan. i, Hannah H. (wife of 
Dr. W. R. Patton, of Charleston"), Annie 
(now Mrs. Silas Barnes, of Charleston), 
Demetrius J. (now a resident of Cali- 
fornia), Ion B. (now Mrs. T. H. Duncan, 
of Oakland, 111. ), N. Ella and Mary A. 

GILES DAVIS, deceased, late of 
Charleston ; although not one of the early 
settlers, was yet a citizen and business man 
who enjoyed in so large a measure the con- 
fidence of his fellow-men and was held in 
such universal and high esteem by the 
entire community, that it is with pleasure 
that we give a brief sketch of his life ; 
he was born in Union Co., Ind., Nov. 7, 
1824; he was the son of Elisha and 



Elizabeth (Shafer) Davis, both of whom 
were natives of Ohio; his youth was spent 
in the usual manner of farmers' sons. On 
the 1st of October, 1845, when not quite 
21 years of age, he was married to Miss 
Louisa Jinks, a daughter of Samuel and 
Phcebe (Winchell) Jinks, of Franklin Co., 
Ind. In 18(58, he removed with his family 
to Jasper Co., 111., and engaged in farm- 
ing ; in 1871, he came to Coles Co., and, 
until 1873, kept a meat market in Charles- 
ton ; he then located on a farm in Seven 
Hickory Tp., where he resided two years, 
at the end of which time he returned to 
Charleston and resumed business ; in 1878, 
just previous to his death, he engaged in 
the grocery business, which is still con- 
tinued by his son, Warren R. Davis. He 
died Oct. 19, 1878, leaving a wife and 
eleven children — Sarah E. (Mrs. E. B. 
Wooden, of Charleston ), Phoebe J. (wife 
of T. J. Hedrick, of Rush Co., Kan.), 
Robert S. (a teacher, of Rush Co., Kan.), 
Richard E. ( a telegraph operator in Litch- 
field, III.), Giles 0. (in business in Charles- 
ton), Warren R. (also in business in 
Charleston"), Louisa J., Pjinily M., Harry 
E., Wilber M. and Effie L.; their first-born, 
Samuel J., died Sept. 3, 1847. Mr. Davis 
was a highly-respected member of the 
Masonic fraternity and the Knights of 
Honor. 

HON. ORLANDO B. FICKLIN, at- 
torney at law, Charleston ; he was born in 
Kentucky Dec. 16, 1808, being the son 
of William and Elizabeth Kenner (Will- 
iams) Ficklin, both of Virginia. His 
early education was obtained in country 
schools, in Kentucky and Missouri, except 
about one year, which he spent at Cum- 
berland College, located at Princeton, 
Caldwell Co., Ky.. under the auspices of 
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 
His parents having removed to Potosi, 
Witshington Co., Mo., he commenced the 
study of Jaw with Henry Shurlds of that 
place, who was afterward elected to the 
Circuit Court bench, and at a later period 
removed to St. Louis and engaged in bank- 
ing until his death ; Mr. Ficklin spent the 
winter of 1829 and 1830 in the law office 
of (jren. Robert Farris, of St. Louis ; in 
March, 1830, he was admitted to the bar 
at Bellville, St. Clair Co., III., having been 
examined by Edward Cowles, then an old 
and well-established lawyer of that place; 



520 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



from thence lie went to McLeansboro, 
Hamilton Co., 111., meeting there with 
Chief Justice William Wilson, who ad- 
vised him to locate in Mount Carmel, 
Wabash Co., 111. ; Mr. Ficklin attended 
the courts of that circuit commencing at 
Carmi, and when the circuit closed, he 
located at Mt. Carmel. In 1832, he went 
to the Black Hawk war in Capt. Elias 
Jurdon's Company, and at the organiza- 
tion of the regiments and brigades, was 
appointed Quartermaster, and was attached 
to the brigade of lien. Milton R. Alex- 
ander, then of Paris, 111.; in 1833, he 
was elected Colonel of the militia of Wa- 
bash Co., under the old militia system, long 
since exploded. At the election in August, 
1834, Mr. Fickliu was elected to the Lower 
House of the Legislature, and was chosen 
by that body State's Attorney for the 
Wabash Circuit. In 1837, he removed to 
Charleston, Coles Co., where he has ever 
since resided. At the election on the first 
Monday of August, 1838, he was elected 
as Representative in the Legislature from 
that county, and was again elected to the 
same place in August, 1842; at the 
August election in 1843, he was elected to 
Congress from the Wabash district ; his 
colleagues were Robert Smith, John A. 
McClernand, John Wentworth, Joseph P. 
Hoge, John J. Harding and Stephen A. 
Douglas ; he was re-elected to Congress in 
August, 1844, and again in 1846, and 
declining to be a candidate at the next 
election, he resumed the practice of law in 
Charleston ; in 1850, he was again a can- 
didate for Congress, and was elected at the 
August election ; on the expiration of his 
term, March 4, 1853, he engaged agahi in 
the practice of law ; in 185(5, he was a 
member of the Dcniiicratic C<invention at 
Cincinnati, that nominated James Buchan- 
an for President ; in 18G0, he was a mem- 
ber of the National Convention, held at 
Charleston, S. C, and was present at the 
disruption of that body, and also attended 
the adjourned meeting at Baltimore, where 
Stephen A. Douglas was nominated ; in 
18t)4, he was a delegate to the National 
Convention, held at Chicago, that nominated 
Gen. George B. McClellau for President ; 
he represented the counties of Coles, Moul- 
trie and Douglas in the State Constitutional 
Convention, in the winter of ISli'J-TO; 
after which, he gave his attention to the 



practice of law, and was not a candidate 
for any office in the gift of the people until 
the fall of 1878, when he was elected to 
the Illinois House of Representatives. 
While in Congress, he was married to Miss 
EUzabeth H. Coli|uitt, a daughter of Sen- 
ator W. H. Colquitt, of Georgia, and has 
four children living. 

FREDERICK FROMMEL, Charles- 
ton, of the firm of Weiss & Frommel, 
proprietors of the Charleston Woolen-JIill ; 
was born in Ravensburg, Kingdom of Wur- 
temberg, Germany, Dec. 5, 1825 ; at the 
age of 14, he was apprenticed in a woolen- 
factory to learn the trade, and worked there 
until he came to this country in 1854 ; he 
spent several years in Philadelphia, New 
York and Connecticut ; after which, he 
came West to Cincinnati, where he was 
engaged in traveling for two of the prin- 
cipal woolen houses in that city until 1869 ; 
he then removed to Charleston, afci en- 
gaged with Henry Weiss, proprietor of the 
Charleston Woolen-Mill. On the death 
of Mr. Weiss, in the fall of 1869, he be- 
came a member of the firm of Weiss, 
Ginther & Co., till 1874, since which time 
it has been Weiss & Frommel ; they em- 
ploy about thirty hands, and manufacture 
all kinds of woolen goods and yarns. Mr. 
Frommel was a member of the City Coun- 
cil of Charleston, from 1874 to 1878. 
He was married May 16, 1860, to Miss 
Annie Stuber, of Cincinnati, and has five 
children living — Emma K., Albert G., 
Ernst H., Minnie Ch. and Otto H. 

AARON FERGUSON, M. D., deceased, 
late of Charleston ; was born in Wilkes {\\.. 
N. C, Dec. 11,1802; he was a .-,.ii ,,f 
Joel and Lydia (Chambers) Ferguson, and 
the oldest of a family of nine children ; 
when he was quite young, his parents emi- 
grated to Bloomington, Ind. ; he obtained 
a collegiate education in the Bloomington 
College, after which, he studied medicine 
under Dr. Maxwell, of that place, and at- 
tended a course of medical lectures in Cin- 
cinnati ; in 1830, he came to Charleston 
and entered upon the practice of his pro- 
fession, lie was married May 21, 1832, 
to Miss Susan P. Morton, daughter of 
Charles S. Morton, the original proprietor 
of the city of Charleston ; she was born 
in Fayette Co., Ky., May 31, 1814, and 
came to Coles Co. with her parents in 
1829 ; all their children, three in number, 






CHAKLESTON TOWNSHIP. 



521 



are still living ; William C. resides in St. 
Louis; Irvin B., in Koekerville, Dakota 
Territory, and Aaronella L. is the wife of 
G. W. Parker, of St. Louis. Dr. Fergu- 
son, not content with previous attainments, 
afterward pursued a course in the Medical 
Department of Transylvania University, 
Lexington, Ky.. where he graduated about 
1837 ; his practice was an extensive one, 
extending a distance of thirty miles in all 
directions ; he was a close student all his 
life, retiring in his disposition, seeking no 
notoriety, and accepting no public offices, 
but devoting himself to study and the 
duties of his profession. He was, how- 
ever, an earnest Republican, believing 
firmly in the principles of his party, and j 
ready to advocate them on all suitable oc- 
casions. For about five years previous to i 
his death, he was confined to his room by 
paralysis; he died April 10, 187(5 ; as a 
physician, he occupied an exalted position, 
and as a citizen was held in universal re- 
spect. Mrs. Ferguson still resides in 
Charleston. 

WM. E. GINTHEK, dealer in hardware 
and farm machinery, and general insur- 
ance agent, Charleston ; was born in the 
province of Saxony, Prussia, May 2, 1834 ; 
his father was a wagon and carriage manu- 
facturer, and he attended school and 
worked in his father's shop till he was 
16 years old, when he came to this 
country, landing in New York on the 4th 
of July, 1850 ; coming to Chicago, he | 
worked on a farm and on the old Galena , 
& Chicago R. R. for awhile; afterward 
engaged in farming for himself; in 18(!1, 
he engaged as a traveling salesman for H. 
W. Austin, of Chicago, his route lying 
through Central and Southern Illinois, and 
Missouri; in 1864, he removed to Charles- 
ton, and, until 1869, followed the hard- 
ware and lumber business, the firm being 
MeGee & Ginther ; he then became a 
partner in the firm of Weiss, Ginther & 
Co., proprietors of the Charleston Woolen- 
Mill ; in 1874, he resumed the hardware 
business, and in September, 1877, started 
in the insurance business also ; he repre- 
sents fifteen first-class fire insurance com- 
panies, and three life and accident com- ' 
panics. He represented a part of Cook 
Co. in the State Legislature in 1861 and 
1862, his district comprising the West Di- 
vision of Chicago and the western portion 



of Cook Co. ; for four years previously, he 
had been a member of the Cook County 
Board of Supervisors ; since coming to 
Charleston, he has abstained from political 
life, and with the exception of serving in 
the City Council, has held no public office. 
He was married in 1853 to Miss Cather- 
ine Jacobs, of St. Charles, 111., a native of 
Bavaria, Germany; she died in 1858, 
leaving one son — Francis W., now U. S. 
Postal Clerk from Pittsburgh, Penn., to 
New York City ; Mr. Ginther was mar- 
ried again in 1859, to Miss Christina 
Schneider, of Oak Park, 111. ; they have 
five children — Emma L., Anna, Clara A., 
Minnie C. and William E., Jr. 

CHARLES GRAMESLY, dealer in 
wines and liquors, Charleston ; was born 
in Palmyra, Wayne Co., N. Y., June 2, 
1842 ; he is a son of William S. and 
Phebe J. (Hildreth) Gramesly ; his 
father was born in Orange Co., N. Y., 
Nov. 17, 1809, and his mother in Bridge- 
hampton. Long Island, March 5, 1819 ; 
in l!^57, his parents removed with their 
family to Coles Co., and settled in Charles- 
ton Tp., where his father now resides ; 
his mother died in January, 1876, leaving 
two sons— Charles and Henry ; on becom- 
ing of age, Mr. Gramesly engaged in teach- 
ing school, and followed it during three 
successive winters ; in 1872, he entered the 
Charleston post office as deputy, under 
John A. Miles, and remained till Decem- 
ber, 1873, when he left the office to attend 
to his duties as collector of the township, 
to which office he had been elected in the 
spring of that year ; in the spring of 1875, 
he started his present business. He was 
married Aug. 28, 1877, to Miss Katurah 
Hildreth, a daughter of John Hildreth, of 
South Onondaga, Onandaga Co., N. Y. ; 
they have one child — Margaret. 

J. P. HARRAH, attorney at law, 
Charleston ; is a native of Putnam Co., 
Ind. ; he was born near Greencastle June 
4, 1848, and is a son of Daniel F. Harrah ; 
in 1858, he removed with his father's family 
to Jasper Co.. 111., where he remained on 
the farm until 1 867 ; he then engaged in 
teaching school in Jasper Co. ; in August, 
1868, he entered Westfield College, 111., 
and remained as a student in that institu- 
tion two years ; returning home in 1870, 
he began reading law, and, in the fall of 
1871, weut to Newton, the county seat of 



522 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



Jasper Co., as deputy in the office of 
the County Treasurer, continuing his law 
studies under the direction of Col. John 
H. Halley, a prominent attorney of that 
city ; in November, 1872, he was elected 
State's Attorney for Jasper Co., although 
he was not admitted to the bar until Octo- 
ber. 1873, owing to a rule of the Supreme 
Court of the State requiring candidates for 
admission to spend two years in an attor- 
ney's office ; he continued to hold the office 
of State's Attorney until 1876 ; he also 
served one term as City Attorney ; he was 
appointed a Justice of the Peace in De- 
cember, 1876, by (tov. CuUom ; in 1877, 
he came to Charleston and has since been 
engaged in the practice of law in this city. 
He was married Jan. 8, 1873, to Miss 
Emma L. Gill, a dautrhter of Thomas Gill, 
of Cumberland Co., 111. ; she died Oct. 6, 
1878, leaving two children — Edith A. and 
Hattie A. 

ELI HURON, dealer in books, station- 
ery, musical instruments, toys, etc., Charles- 
ton ; was born in Hendricks Co., Ind., 
Oct. 14, 1836; up to the breaking-out of 
the rebellion he remained on his father's 
farm. In February, 1862, he entered the 
Union army as a member of Co. A, 53d 
Ind. V. I., serving in the Army of the 
Cumberland ; he participated in the siege 
of Corinth, and was wounded at the second 
battle of Corinth, on the 5th of October, 
1862, from which he lost his right arm. 
He spent the spring and summer of 1864 
as a student in Bryant & Stratton's Busi- 
ness College, ludianajiolis, after which he 
went to Washington, D. C, and entered 
the office of the Indiana State Military 
Agency as a clerk under Gen. Hatmaman ; 
liere he remained several months and then 
obtained an appointment in the War De 
partment as a clerk in the Quartermaster 
General's office, where he remained till 
1869, when he resigned his position and 
came to Charleston ; he entered upon his 
present business, starting at first with a 
small stock; his business has continued to 
increa.se until he now has the largest busi- 
ness in his line in the city. He was mar- 
ried July 1. 186!l, to Miss Anni(? Harding, 
of Charleston, and has one son — Roluh E. 

RICE P. HACKETT, farmer" and 
stock-raiser ; P O. Charleston ; was born 
in Coles Co.. 111., Nov. 28. 1838 ; he is a 
son of Levi Hackett, who came from Scott 



Co., Ky., and settled in Coles Co. in 1835, 
and now lives in Douglas Co., to which he 
removed in 1861. Mr. Hackett is the sec- 
ond of a family of eight children, five of 
whom are living. He was married Feb. 25, 
1857, to Miss Ann M. Waltrip, of Hutton 
Tp., also a native of the county, and a 
daughter of John Waltrip, one of the early 
settlers of the county. They have nine 
children— William J., Eliza E., Noah M., 
Legrand A., Henry M., Ida J., Lula E., 
Eva R. and Reason A. In August, 1862, 
Mr. Hackett enlisted in Co. K, 123d I. V. 
I., and served three years, participating in 
all the principal engagements of that regi- 
ment ; he was severely wounded at the 
battle of Milton, Tenn., and carries to this 
day a bullet in his hip as a memento of 
that engagement ; he was again slightly 
wounded during a skirmish while on a 
foraging expedition below M urfreesboro ; 
he settled on his present farm in 1872, 
where he owns 205 acres of land, well 
improved. Mr. Hackett and family are 
members of the Church of God, of which 
he is a Trustee and Deacon ; he took an 
active part in the erection of their house of 
Worship in 1876, donating a lot for that 
jiurpose from the corner of his farm. 

ISAIAH H. JOHNSTON, President 
of the Second National Bank, Charleston ; 
was born in Russell Co., Va., April 24, 
1827 ; his father, Abner Johnston, came 
to this county in 1830, and settled in 
what is now Pleasant Grove Tji., and lived 
there until his death, which occurred in 
1848. Mr. Johnston followed farm- 
ing until he was 27 years old, and 
then engaged in merchandising, and, in 
1857, removed to Mattoon, and continued 
in business there till 1860; he was then 
elected Sheriff, of Coles Co., and removed 
to Charleston; he served as Sheritt two 
years, and afterward served out the unex- 
pired term of John H. O'Hair. He 
afterward followed the dry goods trade one 
year, and during this time was engaged 
also in farming and dealing in stock. In 
1869, he built the first pork-packing house 
in the city, and the same year, in company 
with T. A. Marshall and John W. True, 
he established the banking house of T. A. 
Marshall & Co., which was superseded by 
the Second National Bank two years later. 
In 1871, he. with John B. Hill and 
Thomas Sloddert, erected the Charleston 



CHARLESTON TOWNSHIP. 



523 



Pork-Packing Houses, and he continued 
in the packing business until 1873, when 
he became President of the Second Na- 
tional Bank ; he has served two terms as 
member of the Board of Supervisors. Mr. 
Johnson was first married Feb. 10, 18-48, 
to Miss Harriet Jeflfries, daughter of the 
late Thomas Jeffries, one of the early set- 
tlers of Coles Co. ; she died April 14, 
1853, leaving two children — Felix, now 
in the Second National Bank, and Emily, 
now wife of Charles E. Wilson, of Charles- 
ton ; Mr. Johnston was married again | 
Aug. 10, 1855, to Miss Sarah A. Gray, 
of this county ; they have three children 
living — Mattie E., Bertha and Hu^h. 

JACOB LINDER, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Charleston. Among the 
pioneers of Coles Co. who settled here 
prior to the year 1830, was Jonathan Lin- 
der, who was born in West Virginia Aug. 
8, 1808. He was the son of a farmer, 
and on becoming of ago he came West, ac- 
companied by his lather's family ; they 
made the journey in wagons, and on arriv- 
ing in Coles Co., they took up some land 
and purchased other land, and engaged in 
farming. After a few years, he revisited 
his native State, performing the journey 
there and back on horse-back. In 1834 or 
1835, he married Miss Margaret Cossell, a 
daughter of Michael Cossell, another of 
the pioneer settlers ; she was born in West 
Virginia, and came to the county with her 
parents in 1830. They continued to re- 
side in Charleston Tp. till their death. 
Mr. Linder died in April, 1877, his wife 
having died in 1872. They left one son, 
Jacob Linder, who was born in Charleston 
Tp., Jan. 6, 1836, and who now owns and 
occupies the old homestead on See. 4, 
consisting of 207 acres of land. He also 
owns sixty-five acres nearer town. He 
was married May 31, 1860, to Miss Rachel 
A. Mclntire, of Seven Hickory Tp., and 
has one child living — Minnie E. 

GEN. G. M.MITCHELL, Postmaster, 
Charleston, was born in Warren Co., Ky., 
Oct. 5, 1835. His father, Bedford Mitch- 
ell, came to Coles Co. in 1851 and settled j 
in Paradise Township, where he died in 
1856. In 1852, thesubjectof this sketch. ' 
then a lad of 17, entered a store in 
Paradise, as clerk for Cunningham & Son, 
where he remained six years. He then 
followed merchandising for himself untO 



1859, when he was appointed Deputy 
Sheriff under Maiden Jones, and served 
until May, 1860. On the 1st of May, 

1860, he married Miss Kate Miles, 
daughter of John Miles, of Charleston, 
and has seven children. Removing to 
Mattoon, he formed a partnership with 
John Cunningham, under the firm name of 
Mitchell & Cunningham, and continued in 
general merchandise business until the 
breaking-out of the rebellion. In June, 

1861, he entered the army as Captain of 
Co. C 1st I. V. C. — the first three-years 
regiment to leave the State. He served 
with that regiment till February, 1862, 
when he was promoted to Lieutenant- 
Colonel of the 54th I. V. I. In October, 
1863, was promoted to Colonel. In 1864, 
he re-enlisted with his regiment as a veter- 
an, and in the fall of the same year was 
brevetted Brigadier General, and was mus- 
tered out of the service Nov. 3, 1865, 
having served actively and continuously 
for nearly five years ; he participated in 
the siege of Vick.sburg, the battle of Par- 
ker's Cross Roads, Tenn., and was with 
Gen. Steel in all his campaigns in Arkan- 
sas. Returning from the war, he was 
elected Sherifi' of Coles Co., holding the 
office two years. He was appointed Post- 
master at Charleston in April, 1877. 

JAMES A. MITCHELL ^deceased); 
one of the early pioneers of Coles Co., was 
born in Washington Co., E. Tenn., Aug. 

27, 1797 ; he was a son of Robert and 
Elizabeth (Allison) Mitchell ; his father 
was a native of North Carolina and emi- 
grated to Tennessee in an early day. He 
passed his earh' life on his father's farm 
near Jonesboro, Tenn., and after obtain- 
ing a thorough preparatory education en- 
tered Washington College, in his native 
State, but, after a time, left college and en- 
gaaed in merchandisins. He was married 
May 12, 1818, to Miss Esther Collom, of 
his native county ; she was born Oct. 

28, 1799. He came to Coles Co. 
in 1833, and entered a large quantity ot 
Government land, and engaged in farming, 
dealing in stock, etc. For a number of 
years, he resided in Charleston, but after- 
ward retired to a farm near town, on which 
he resided till his death. He was a promi- 
nent citizen and a prosperous business man. 
He was for several years School Commis- 
sioner of Coles Co. He died Oct. 14, 



524 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



18-43, while on a visit to his old home in ' 
Tennessee, leaving a wife and nine chil- 
dren — Robert A., for twenty years Pastor 
of the Presbyterian Church in Charleston, 
and now of Kansas, 111. ; Jonathan C, now 
a farmer in Missouri ; John D., a physi- 
cian of Terre Haute, Ind., Sarah E., wife ' 
of Thomas Cheeseman, of Missouri ; Sam- i 
uel, who died in 1873 ; Luther and James 
A., farmers in Coles Co., Alexander C. I 
and Isaac B., merchants in Charleston. 
His widow, now Mrs. Lumbrick, still re- I 
sides in Charleston, 

LUTHER C. MITCHELL, farmer 
and stock-raiser; P. O.Charleston; a son 
of James A. and Esther (Collom), Mitch- 
ell ; was born in Washington Co., Tenn., 
June 2, 1830; in 1833, his father's fam- 
ily removed to Charleston ; he was raised 
on the fiirm, and at I'J, .started for him- 
self; after iarming two years, he made 
the trip to California, where he spent 
eight months in mining ; going thence to 
Australia ; there he remained seven years, 
and, returning in 1860, he resumed farm- 
ing and dairying; he removed in 1871 to 
his present farm on Sec. 19, where he 
owns eighty acres of land. He was mar- 
ried March 5, 1861, to Miss H. A. 
Waddle, of Coles Co. ; they have seven 
children living — Kittle B., William A., 
Rhoda H., Ella, Alice, James and Emily 
E. Mr. Mitchell has served six years as 
School Director. 

ALEXAxXDER C. MITCHELL, deal- 
er in books, stationery, toys, etc., Charles- 
ton ; is a native of Coles Co., being a son 
of James M. and Esther (CoUom) 
Mitchell, a sketch of whom is given above; 
he was born in Charleston Dec. 6, 1836; 
until 1860, he remained on the farm, 
receiving a common school education. 
He was married Dec. 27, 1859, to Mrs. 
Carrie Roberts, of Charleston. In 1860, 
he engaged in the boot and shoe business 
in Charleston, and continued in that two 
years ; the next two years were spent in 
farming, after which he followed the gro- 
cery business until 1S76; he was engaged 
for a short time in the drug business, after 
which he entered upon his present busi- 
ness; he has two sons — Walter G. and 
Wirt A. 

ISAAC B. MITCHELL, dealer in 
groceries and provisions, Charleston ; is 
the youngest son of James A. and Esther 



Mitchell ; he was born in Charleston, III, 
Jan. 6, 1841 ; he remained on the farm 
until the age of 15 years; the next 
four years he spent in the Charleston 
Academy, where he prepared for the 
Sophomore class in college, intending to 
pursue a college course; but, in 1861, 
owing to circumstances, he abandoned the 
idea and engaged in farming. In April, 
1862, he enlisted in Co. A, 68th I. V. I., 
for three months. He continued farming 
until 1865, teaching school during the 
winters; in 1865, he engaged in mercan- 
tile business in Charleston. He was mar- 
ried Dec. 11, 1866, to Miss Florida A. 
MOes. a daughter of John A. Miles, of 
Charleston, and has four children — John 
M., Charles B., Richard R. and Paul. He 
continued merchandising until 1867, and 
then farmed for one year, starting in his 
present business in 1868. 

ALLISON M. MITCHELL, of the 
firm of Ashmore & Mitchell, dealers in 
boot,s and shoes, Charleston; is a native 
of Coles Co ; he was born in Charleston 
Dec. 29, 1852, being the son of Rev. 
Robert A. and Ann E. Mitchell; his 
father was born in Washington Co., Tenn., 
and came to Coles Co. with his parents in 
1833; he received a collegiate education, 
and after pursuing a theological course, 
located in Charleston as Pastor of the 
Presbyterian Church, of which he remained 
in charge for twenty years. AllLson M. 
Mitchell, the son, was raised on a farm 
until he was 19 years old, and then 
entered the grocery store of his uncle, I. 
B. Mitchell, where he remained for three 
years, after which he spent about two 
years in the employ of W. M. & E. A. 
Jenkins; on the 1st of January, 1878, in 
company with W. J. Ashmore, he pur- 
chased the boot and shoe business of B. 

' M. Payne, in which he has since con- 
tinued. 

JOHN A. McCONNELL. editor of the 
Charleston Phnndealer, Charleston ; was 

1 born in Cadiz, Ohio, Dec. 26, 1826; he 
began, at 12 years of age, to learn his 
father's business of ehairmaking; his in- 
clinations were, however, toward literary 
or professional pursuits, but he was pre- 
vented from carrying out his intentions in 
that direction by a weakness of the eyes ; 
at the age of 17, he began teaching school, 
and taught during the winters for four 



CHARLESTON TOWNSHIP. 



525 



years ; in 1859, lie engaged in the grocery 
business in Cadiz, in which he continued 
until 1871, when he embarked in the tan- 
ning business, and followed this until the 
spring of 1878 ; he then came to Charles- 
ton and assumed editorial charge of the 
Charleston Plaindealer, a Republican 
newspaper, the oldest in the county. He 
was married Jan. 3, 1861, to Miss Mary 
Quest, of Cadiz, Ohio, a native of Indiana 
Co., Penn. 

WM. M. McCONxXELL, Charleston, 
of the firm of M. A. McConnell & Co., pub- 
lishers of the Charleston Plaindealer, was 
born on the 28th of August, 1855, in 
Cadiz, Harrison Co., Ohio; he is a son of 
James McConnell, of that city ; he at- 
tended the public schools of his native 
town, graduating from the high school in 
1872 ; he at once entered the oifice of the 
Cadiz Republican, to learn the printer's 
trade, and, after completing his appren- 
ticeship, remained in the office as a jour- 
neyman until he came to Charleston, in 
the spring of 1878, as one of the proprie- 
tors of the Plaindealer. 

WM. E. McCRORY, Cashier of the 
First National Bank, Charleston, is a son 
of James McCrory, who came from Harri' 
son Co., Ky., to Coles Co. in 1837; was 
for two years engaged in business in 
Charleston, and was for a time Postmaster 
of this city ; he returned to Kentucky in 
1839, and remained there until 1850, 
when he removed permanently, with his 
family, to this county ; he was for eight 
years County Clerk, and is now a promi- 
nent farmer in La Fayette Tp. William E. 
was born in Cynthiana, Harrison Co., Ky., 
March 20, 1839; after spending a year as 
a clerk in the County Clerk's office, under 
his father, he became Cashier, at the age 
of about 17 years, of the Farmers' and 
Traders' Bank, where he remained until 
ISIjO, when that bank, in common with 
the other State banks — being based upon 
Southern bonds, went down, after which, 
Marshall & McCrory continued the 
banking business for about a year ; he 
then served for a time as Deputy County 
Clerk, under Jacob I. Brown ; then clerked 
for a while for R. M. & H. S. Parcels, 
after which he resumed the banking busi- 
ness, as Cashier for the Coles County Bank 
of T. G. Chambers & Co., and, on the con- 
solidation of that bank with the Fir.'it 



National Bank, in 1868, he became Cashier 
of the latter institution, which position he 
still retains; he served one year as Town 
Clerk. He was married March 2tl, I860, 
to Miss Kate Parcels, a daughter of the late 
John F. Parcels, an early and highly re- 
spected citizen of Charleston ; they have 
one son living — Walter P. 

T. J. MARCH, Sr., dealer in furni- 
ture, Charleston ; was born in Baltimore, 
Md., March 22, 1807 ; he is the only son 
of John and Eliza March ; losing his father 
in early childhood, he was very early in 
life thrown upon his own resources ; at the 
age of 8 years, he was placed in a tailor 
shop, where he was put to ripping up old 
clothes, after which he worked successively 
for a tobacconist in stripping tobacco, in a 
chair-factory, learning to bottom chairs, 
and in a sieve-factory. In his 15th year, 
he began learning the house-joiner's trade, 
and on becoming of age, went to Philadel- 
phia, where he followed his trade up to 
1835, two years of which time he spent in 
the employ of Stephen Girard, and helped 
to build the large and elecant structures 
composing Girard's Square. He was mar- 
ried March 22, 1831, to Miss Rosina D. 
Creighton, a daughter of John and Mar- 
garet Creighton, of Philadelphia ; she was 
born in that city November 1, 1810 ; 
they have had nine children, five of whom 
are living — Thomas J. (of Charleston), 
Lizzie I. (wife of J. M. Ashmore, of 
Charleston], George A. (of Downey, Los 
Angeles Co., Cal.), Robert A. (of Charles- 
ton ) and Rosina D. (now Mrs. H. E. 
Brooks, of Charleston). On the 4th of 
July, 1835, Mr. March left Philadelphia 
and removed to Louisville, Kj'., and in 
March, 1836, came to Coles Co. ; he put 
up a rail cabin ten feet square in what is 
now Morgan Tp., and there lived with his 
family for three months, when they re- 
moved to Charleston ; after following his 
trade of a house-joiner for a number of 
years ; he engaged in cabinet-making and 
the undertaking business, and for the past 
fifteen years or more, has been in the fur- 
niture business. Mr. March built the first 
iron front store in Charleston on the east 
side of the square, in 1858 ; besides this, 
he has erected two other substantial brick 
buildings and three dwellings, not to men- 
tion the large number he has built for 
other parties; his enterprise has been re- 



526 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



warded with success, he having accumu- 
lated a comfortable property, owning nine 
buildings in the city, including the fine 
brick store in March's Block. 

COL. THOMAS A. MARSHALL, 
deceased, late of Charleston ; was a son of 
Hon. Thos A.Marshril],a prominent lawyer, 
and for more than twenty year.s Judge of 
the Court of Appeals of Kentucky ; he 
was born in Frankfort, Ky., Nov. 4, 1817 ; 
in early childhood, he removed with his 
parents to Paris, Bourbon Co., Ky. ; his 
opportunities for. obtaining an education 
were excellent and were appreciated and 
improved by him ; he early became a stu- 
dent in Transylvania University, and, in 
about 1833, entered Kenyon College, but 
near the close of the Junior year, he left 
College, and was employed for a few 
months on the survey of the Louisville , 
& Lexington Railroad; after reading law 
and attending a course of lectures in the 
law department of Transylvania University, 
in Lexington, Ky., his father being then 
a law professor in that institution, he was : 
admitted to the bar, and, in 1837, began 
practice in Vicksburg, IMiss., where he en- 
joyed a very successful law practice until 
his removal to Illinois. He was married 
Sept. 4. 1838, to Miss Ellen I. Miles, 
daughter of Dr. James I. Miles, of Frank- 
fort, Ky. ; in November, 1830, he removed 
to Coles Co., whore he had previously 
purchased a tract of 800 acres of land, 
known as Dead Man's Grove ; he removed 
to Charleston two years afterward and re- 
sumed the practice of his profession ; 
turning his attention to politics, he became 
a leading politician, and was associated 
with Abraham Lincoln, Lyman Trumbull, 
David Davis, John M. Palmer, N. B. 
Judd and others in the organization of the 
Republican party in 1850, previously to 
which time he had been an Old Line Whig ; 
in 1817, he had been a member of the State 
Constitutional Convention, and, in 185fi, 
was a member of the Republican State 
Convention, and the same year, at the 
earnest ]iersonal solicitation of Mr. Lincoln, 
he became a candidate for the State Senate 
on the Republican ticket, and was elected 
by a large majority. He was subsequently j 
in 18G0, elected to the same oflfice on the 
Presidential ticket which elected Abraham 
Lincoln as President of the United States; 
it should be mentioned that in 1853 he j 



became Cashier of the Farmers' and Trad- 
ers' Bank in Charleston and continued as 
such during the existence of the same. In 
July, 1861, he became Colonel of the 1st. 
I. V. C., and served his country gallantly 
and faithfully until the muster-out of his 
regiment in the fall of 1862. In July, 
1863, he was appointed Superintendent 
of Indian Affairs in Utah, but shortly 
afterward resigned his position ; in 1864, 
he was appointed Postmaster at Vicks- 
burg, Miss., holding that ofiBce until July, 
1865 ; he was President of the bank of T. 
A. Marshall & Co. until its reorganization 
as the Second National Bank, when, owing 
to ill health, he retired to his farm, where 
he resided until his death on the 11th of 
November, 1873 ; he left a family of six 
children — William S. i^now in business in 
Denver, Colo.), Eliza M. ( Mrs. J. W. True, 
of Louisa Co., Iowa), James M. (now a 
Captain in the Quartermaster's Depart- 
ment of the regular army and stationed in 
Baltimore), Thomas A. (of Denver, Colo.), 
Charles T. and John H. ; Mrs. Marshall 
and the youngest two members of her fam- 
ily reside in Charleston. 

JAMES M. MILL'ER, dealer in dry 
goods, boots and shoes, clothing and fur- 
nishing goods, Charleston ; has been a cit- 
izen and merchant of Charleston for more 
than forty years, being the oldest merchant 
now doing business in the city ; he was 
born in Spencer Co., Ky., Aug. 29, 1814; 
he is a son of John H. and Jane Miller, 
the former a native of Virginia, and the 
latter of Pennsylvania ; he was raised on 
a farm and followed the occupation of 
farming until 1838, when he came to 
Charleston and engaged in general mer- 
chandising, having visited the State and 
purchased land in Bond Co. two years be- 
fore ; he has continued in the mercantile 
business to the present time, with the ex- 
ception of one year which he spent in the 
cattle business in Wisconsin ; although 
Mr. Miller has passed through several sea- 
sons of financial depression, and h;is him- 
self suffered some reverses of fortune, his 
mercantile career has, upon the whole, 
been a prosperous one ; he has always paid 
dollar for dollar, and has a comfortable 
competency remaining ; he has done much 
to improve the city, having built several 
stores and dwellings, expending no less 
than $30,000 in improvements ; he was 



I 



CHARLESTON TOWNSHIP. 



527 



the first of the Charleston merchants to 
purchase goods in New York City, which 
he (lid for the first time in 1844. He has 
served two terms in the City Council. He 
was married April 7, 1842, to Helen E. 
Walker of Charleston, a native of Ken- 
tucky ; she died July 24, 1851, leaving 
one daughter — Mary F. (jiow Mrs. A. C. 
Stallard, of Shelby Co., Ky.). Mr. Mil- 
ler was married again Aug. 3, 1852, to 
Nancy S. Harris, of Cortland Co., N. Y, 

TARLTON C. MILES, Charleston, is 
a native of Franklin Co., Ky. ; he was 
born near Frankfort, on the 1st of May, 
1825 ; he is a son of Dr. James I. Miles, 
a physician of that county ; his early life 
w;is spent in the subscription schools in 
his neighborhood ; in 1845, he came to 
Coles Co. He was married Oct. 3, 1848, 
to Miss Sophia 0. Van Deren, a daughter 
of Joseph Van Deren, of Coles Co. ; she 
was born in Cynthiana, Harrison Co., Ky., 
Jan. 18, 1829, and came to Illinois with 
her parents in 1835 ; they have six chil- 
dren living — Isaac J., William V., Ella M., 
Ida T., May R. and Tarlton V. Mr. 
Miles first engaged in farming in La Fay- 
ette Tp., owning a large quantity of land 
in the county; in 1855, he removed and 
began business as a general merchant, in 
which business he continued for about 
three years ; in 1858, he removed with 
his family to Texas, with a view to enga- 
ging largely in stock-raising, but in 1860, it 
being apparent that a war between the two 
sections was inevitable and was fast ap- 
proaching, he returned North, and en- 
gaged in the lumber business and in run- 
ning a saw-mill near Milton Station ; he 
continued his farming and stock operations 
until about five years ago. Mr. Miles is 
now in England, where he has been since 
September, 1878 ; owing to this, the fore- 
going sketch is far from complete, on ac- 
count of a lack of detailed information. 
He has served the public in various offices 
of trust and responsibility, and always 
with entire satisfiction to the people. 

W. S. MINTON, of the firm of Min- 
ton, Alvey & Van Meter, proprietors of 
the City Mills, Charleston; was born in 
Washington Co., Penn., Dec. 10, 1828 5 
at the age of 12 years, he began to work 
in his father's mill, and there became fa- 
miliar with every branch of the milling 
business ; he continued in that for eight 



years, and. in 1848, started with his 
father in the dry goods business ; six 
years later — 1854 — he came to Illinois, 
bringing with him a thousand head of 
sheep, and engaged in sheep-raising in 
Vermilion Co. ; he soon after removed to 
Edgar Co., where he traded his sheep for 
Western lands, and coming to Coles Co., 
settled on a farm near Charleston ; after 
farming five years, he engaged in mer- 
chandising in Kansas, Edgar Co. ; in 18(34, 
he removed to Charleston, and with W. G. 
Wright and A. K. Spears, started in the 
grocery trade ; since then, he has been en- 
gaged in the hardware and lumber busi- 
ness, the grocery business and the boot and 
shoe trade ; in 1877, the firm of Minton, 
Alvey & Van Meter erected the City Mills, 
a fine brick structure, costing $15,000, 
containing four runs of stone, and fitted up 
with the latest improved machinery for 
manufacturing flour by the patent process. 
Mr. Minton was married Oct. 14, 1853, to 
Miss Matilda R. Wright, a daughter of 
Samuel Wright, now of Charleston, and 
has two children — Clarence H. and Evan- 
geline St. Clair. 

^ HON. JOHN MONROE, deceased, late 
of Charleston ; was born in Glasgow, Barron 
Co., Ky., Sept. 24, 1811 ; his boyhood 
was passed in the private schools of his 
native town ; his father dying when he 
was but a boy, he entered the apothecary- 
shop of his uncle. Dr. George Rogers, a 
physician of Glasgow, and there became 
familiar with the compounding of medi- 
cines, and also studied medicine under his 
uncle's instruction ; he first began prac- 
tice in Tennessee, and, in November, 1833, 
came to Illinois and engaged in the prac- 
tice of his profession in Shelbyville, soon 
removing to Charleston, and, a few years 
later, he engaged in business as a dry goods 
merchant. Returning to Kentucky, he 
was married, April 4, 1840, to Mrs. Martha 
Ferrisb, a widow lady of Greensburg, in 
that State, and came again to Charleston ; 
they had six children, two of whom are 
' still living— Jlrs. Stanley Walker and 
Lewis Monroe, of Charleston. His wife 
died May 14, 1854, and, on the t5th of 
November, 1854, he married Miss Han- 
nah Chambers, a daughter of James and 
Sally Chambers, of Cynthiana, Ky., who 
came to Coles Co. with her parents in 1851 ; 
of five children of this marriage, three are 



528 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



now living — Emma (wife of Thomas T. 
Threlkeld, of Charleston), Virginia and 
Henrietta. Dr. Monroe continued in the 
dry goods trade in Charleston until 1858, 
when he moved to Lafayette Tp., where 
he owned a farm of 1,700 acres. He laid 
out the village of Stockton, building the 
switch and a warehouse and store at that 
place ; he still, however, retained his in- 
terest in business in Charleston, and, in 
1865, returned to that city. He was an 
enterprising, successful business man, 
genial in manner, and, although carrying 
on a variety of important enterprises, he 
never allowed the cares of business to 
weigh upon him ; he had great faith in 
human nature, of which he was an excel- 
lent judge; he trusted largely to others, 
although he kept his business well in hand, 
and, happily, his confidence was never be- 
trayed ; he took special phasure in assist- 
ing worthy young men in business, and 
numerous instances can be found of men, 
now prosperous, who owe their start in 
life to Dr. Monroe. He owned, at his 
death, a fine farm of 800 acres, besides 
eight business houses and two dwellings in 
Charleston. He was an active Democrat, 
but never an office-seeker ; he was, how- 
ever, for a number of years one of the 
Supervisors of the county, and one of the 
most efficient members ever on that Board ; 
be also represented this county at one time 
in the State Legislature. He died July 
29, 1877. Mrs. Monroe still resides in 
Charleston, surrounded by an interesting 
family and in the enjoyment of an ample 
fortune. 

LEWIS MONROE, Charleston, of the 
firm of Monroe & Co., proprietors of the 
Coles County Mill, is a son of the late Dr. 
John Monroe ; he was born in Charleston 
May 29, 184() ; he received his education 
in the public schools, and, at the age of 
18, began business, a partner in the dry 
goods house of Hutchinson, Monroe & Co.; 
he continued in this business seven years, 
when, his health failing, he retired to a 
farm at Monroe Station, in La Fayette Tp. ; 
four years later, he returned to town and 
resumed business, which he continued till j 
1877; in October, 1878, he engaged in 
running the Coles County Mill. For a | 
number of years his interests have been 
divided between Charleston and La Fay- 
ette Tp., where he owns a farm of 800 , 



acres, and keeps about one hundred and 
twenty-five head of cattle, besides other 
stock ; he has other real estate interests in 
Charleston and Coles Co. Mr. Monroe 
was married Nov. 2'J, 1865, to Miss Lydia 
Chilton, daughter of James Chilton, of 
Charleston, and has six children. 

HON. H. A. NEAL, attorney at law, 
Charleston ; is a native of New Hampshire ; 
he was born in Tuftonborough, Carroll Co., 
Dec. 13, 1846; he was raised on a farm 
until he was ten years of age, and then 
his parents removed to Great Falls, N. H.; 
he attended the public schools of that 
city until 1863, when the family returned 
to the farm ; in the fall of 1864, he en- 
tered the army as a member of Co. K, 1st 
N. H. Heavy Artillery, and served till the 
close of the war; on his return, he attended 
one term in the Academy at Effingham, 
N. H., and the following winter taught a 
country school ; in the spring of 1866, he 
went to Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and pursued 
a commercial course of study in Eastman's 
Easiness College, where he graduated in 
September following ; he at once came 
West, and engaged in teaching in Coles 
Co. ; the next year, he became Principal of 
the Grammar School in Paris, 111., and, in 
1868, went to Watseka, Iroquois Co., 111., 
where he had charge of the jmblic schools 
for three years; the winters of 1871 and 
1872, he spent in the law department of 
the University of ^Michigan, at Ann Arbor, 
reading during vacations in the office of 
Wiley tt Parker, in Charleston ; he was 
admitted to the bar in June, 1873, and 
began practice in Charleston ; in 1875, be 
entered into partnership with Messrs. 
Wiley & Parker, the firm becoming Wilev, 
Parker & Neal ; in 1876, Mr. Parker 
moved to St. Louis, since which time the 
firm has been Wiley & Neal. He was 
married June 17, 1873, to Miss Lizzie 
Jones, of Paris, III. ; she died in October, 
1874, leaving one child — Orra E. In 
1876, Mr. Neal was elected on the Ropub 
lican ticket to the State Legislature, and 
re-elected to the same office in the fall of 
1878. 

J. W. NEAL, M. D., physician and 
surgeon, Charleston; was born July 22, 
1851, in what is now Cumberland Co., 111.. 
but then a part of Coles Co. ; his father. 
William Neal, is a prominent and wealthy 
farmer and stock -rai.ser, who came to the 



■ I 



CHARLESTON TOWNSHIP. 



52& 



State fifty-five years a^o, at the age of 8 
years, from Bourbon Co., Ky. ; Dr. Neal 
remained at home on the farm till he was 
19 years old, then entered Lee's Academy, 
in this county, graduating in 1S71, and at 
once began the study of medicine with Dr. 
T. B. Dora, of Mattoon. The winter of 
1872-73 he attended a course of lectures in 
the Eclectic Medical College, Cincinnati, 
Ohio; in the spring of 1873, he began 
practice with Dr. Dora, and the following 
spring removed to Stockton ; in Septem- 
ber, 1874, he entered Bennett Medical 
College, Chicago, graduating and receiving 
his degree of M. D. in January, 1875. On 
the 19th of May following, he married 
Miss Lizzie McCrory, daughter of James 
McCrory, of Stockton, and removed to 
Hutchinson, Kan. On the 17th of Feb- 
ruary, 1877, he was elected Vice Presi- 
dent of the State Eclectic Medical Society, 
at Topeka ; in October, 1877, he returned 
to the Eclectic Medical College, in Cincin- 
nati, where he graduated Jan. 22, 1878, 
receiving the first honors of the institution, 
being selected by his class to deliver the 
valedictory address ; he at once located at 
Charleston, and entered upon the practice 
of his profession. They have had two 
children — Gertrude, born March 7, 187G, 
and Fred. M., born Feb. IS, 1878, and 
died March 26, of the same year. 

JAY F. NEAL, dealer in groceries and 
provisions, Charleston ; was born in Tuf- 
tonborough, Carroll Co., N. H., June 24, 
1835 ; he is a son of Nathaniel Neal, a 
farmer of that town ; his early life was 
passed in farm labor among the granite 
hills, but at the age of 19 years he 
went to Great Falls, and engaged in teach- 
mg just across the river in New Berwick 
Me. ; he continued teaching during a por- 
tion of the year for twelve years. He 
graduated at the New Hampshire Confer- 
ence Seminary at Tilton, N. H., in 1859, 
and entered the Sophomore class of the 
Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn. 
At the end of a year, however, his health 
becoming impaired, and an opportunity 
presenting itself to engage in teaching in 
the South, he left college, and, going to 
Bourbon Co., Ky., taught in the Millers- 
burg high school until 1861. He then 
came to Charleston and taught two years 
in the public schools, after which he en- 
gaged in clerking for Henry Weiss in the 



hardware business, and afterward as book- 
keeper for the Charleston Woolen-Mill, 
engaging in his present business in 1870. 
He was married by the Rev. W. B. Ander- 
son on the 25th of March, 1863, to Miss 
Sarah E. Blakeman, of Charleston Tp., a 
daughter of Even Blakeman, now of Os- 
wego Co., N. Y. They have one child — 
Mary E. 

JACKSON M. OLIVER, former and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Charleston ; was born 
on the old homestead in Charleston Tp., 
June 16, 1851. He is a son of George 
and Fannie (Lumbrick ) Oliver ; his father 
wa.s a native of North Carolina ; born in 
Rockingham Co., in that State, June 16, 
1819; his parents afterward removed to 
Putnam Co., Ind. ; there he lived until 
1840, and then came to Coles Co., where, 
on the 28th of August, 1840, he married 
Miss Fannie Lumbrick, a daughter of 
James Lumbrick, one of the early settlers 
of the county ; she was born in Rocking- 
ham Co., N. C, April 7, 1820, and came 
to Coles Co. when about 11 years of 
age. Of eleven children of this marriage, 
seven are still living, viz. — James A., of 
Charleston Tp. ; Samuel A., of Texas ; 
George M., of Morgan Tp. ; Jackson M., 
of Charleston Tp.; Rosanah, wife of J. W. 
Padget, of Ashmore Tp.; Mary, wife of 
Franklin Alexander, of Hutton Tp.; and 
Stephen A., of Charleston. Mr. Oliver 
died March 6, 1870 ; Mrs. Oliver resides 
in Charleston. Jackson M. Oliver was 
raised on the farm, and was married Sept. 
20, 1874, to Miss Biddie J. Jones, a 
daughter of William Jones, of Cumberland 
Co., 111. ; she was born in that county 
Sept. 3, 1856 ; they have one child living 
— Mollie E. ; one child, Marion H., died 
Aug. 20, 1878. Mr. Oliver is at present 
Collector of Charleston Tp., to which office 
he was elected in the spring of 1878. 

JUDGE A. M. PETERSON, attorney 
at law, Charleston ; was born in Westmore- 
land Co., Penn., Jan. 15, 1825 ; leaving 
there in 1845, he went to Canton, Ohio, 
and began the study of medicine, attend- 
ing a course of lectures at the Cleveland 
Medical College. He came to Illinois in 
1849, and began practice as a physician in 
Edgar Co., and the following year removed 
I to Newton, Jasper Co., 111. On the 18th 
of April, the same year, he married Miss 
Nancy Whalen, of Edgar Co., a native of 



530 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



Nelson Co., Ky. The practice of medicine 
proving distasteful to him, and having a 
natural pi'eference for the law, in 1853, he 
abandoned the former and enKagred in the 
practice of the latter profession, which he 
continued till May, 1861. He then en- 
tered the Union army, as Captain of Co. 
K, 21st I. V. I., of which Gen. Grant was 
then Colonel ; he served until November, 
1862, when, owing to ill health, he re- 
signed. In the spring of 1863 he located 
in Charleston, and resumed the pi-actice of 
the law. He was elected a member of the 
City Council in the spring of 1864, and 
again in the spring of 1866; the 
same year he was elected Mayor of Charles- 
ton, but the duties of the office being un- 
congenial, he soon afterward resigned In 
1869, he was elected County Judge, and 
held that office four years, since which 
time he has confined his attention to the 
practice of his profession. 

W. R. PATTON, M. D., physician, 
and surgeon, Charleston ; is a native of 
Illinois ; he was born in Palestine, 
Crawford Co., Oct. 14, 1836 ; he is a son 
of Dr. E. L. Patton, a prominent physi- 
cian of Palestine, who came from Wash- 
ington Co., East Tenn., to Crawford Co., 
about the year 1833, and practiced medi- 
cine there until his death, which occurred 
in December, 1864. Dr. Patton was 
educated in the public schools, and at 
Hanover College, lud., and, in 1858, began 
the .study of medicine in his fiither's office. 
In 1860, he entered Rush Medical College, 
Chicago; graduating in the spring of 1862. 
He practiced two years in Palestine, and, 
in the winter of 1864, came to Charleston, 
where he has boon engaged in the practice 
of his profession ever since ; he is a mem- 
ber of the Bsculapian Society of the 
Wabash Valley. He was married May 4, 
1864, to Miss Hannah Decker, a daughter 
of Jacob K. Decker, a well-known citizen 
and early settler of Charleston ; they have 
two children — Fredrick Lieth and Jacob 
Allen. Dr Patton served two years on 
the Board of Aldermen, and is the jiresent 
Mayor of Charleston, to which office he 
was elected in 1877. 

ALEXANDER PERKINS, dealer in 
groceries, Charleston ; is an early settler of 
the city, having emigrated from Marion Co., 
Ind., in September, 1836 ; he was born near 
Newcastle, Henry Co., Ky., Feb. 22, 1814; 



when quite young he accompanied his par- 
ents to Marion Co., Ind. ; he was raised 
to agricultural pursuits ; he was married 
Oct. 8, 1835, to Miss Jane Griffith, of 
New Bethel, Marion Co., Ind., and, in 1836, 
removed to Charleston ; they had five chil- 
dren, two of whom are living — Amanda, 
wife of Daniel Curd, and Margaret L., 
now Mrs. John James, both residing in 
Charleston ; two sons, William G. and 
Daniel A., lost tbeir lives during the late 
war. On arriving in Charleston, jNIr. Per- 
kins engaged in manufacturinsr brick, aft- 
erward followed the clothing business for a 
year, and then engaged in the grocery busi- 
ness, which he still continues ; his wife died 
July 22, 1851, and on the 5th of February, 
1852, he married Miss B. F. Curd, daugh- 
ter of Daniel Curd, late of Charleston ; 
they have five children — Kate, wife of W. 
W. Bishop, of Kansas, Edgar Co., Richard 
S,, Daniel, Joseph and Minnie. Mr. 
Perkins has served as Street Commissioner, 
and for several terms on the Board of Al- 
dermen, and was a portion of the time 
President of the Board. 

A. H. PRE VO, firmer and stock-raiser ; 
P. 0. Charleston ; was born in Randolpli 
Co., N. C, Jan. 5, 1833; he is the only 
son of Alson H. and Pheriba ( Phelps i 
Prevo, both natives of th it State, the 
former of whom died when the subject of 
this sketch was a child, and the latter of 
whom now resides with her son, at the age 
of 70 years. At the age of 1 8 years he left 
the farm, and obtained employment in one 
of the lumber mills in the vicinity. In 
1854, he came West as far as Fountain Co . 
Ind., and there engaged in teaching school. 
He was married Oct. 23, 1854, to Miss 
Mary E. Richmond, the only daughter of 
Henry and Sophia J. (Keller) Richmond, 
of that county ; they have two children — 
Jennie and Alson H. Mrs. Richmond, 
now 66 years of age, is a member of her 
daughter's family. Removing to Coles Co. 
in 1856, Mr. Prevo hin^d out to drive 
oxen at $20 a month, and board himself, 
anil after following that for two years, he 
worked in the mill for two years more, 
when, having accumulated a sufficient sum, 
he purc^liased the mill in which ho was cm- 
ployed, which he ran for a number nf 
years. In 1867, he removed to Charle-ton, 
and fitted up the Charleston Stave- Factory, 
with a new entrine, and continued that 



J 



CHARLESTON TOWNSHIP. 



531 



business one year ; the next year, he built 
the Prevo & Spence Elevator, into which 
he removed the engine and machinery of 
the stave-factory ; after continuing the 
grain business one year, he engaged in the 
stock business, shipping horses and mules 
to the Southern States, which he followed 
three winters. In 1869, he purchased a 
mill a few miles south of Charleston, which 
he ran for three years ; then, after looking 
after the interests of his farm for a year, he, 
in 1873, purchased the mill which he still 
continues to own, and which he ran up to 
1877 ; he then retired to his farm on Sec. 
18, where he makes a specialty of fine 
stock, keeping from one hundred to two 
hundred Poland-China hogs, and from fif- 
teen to twenty horses ; he owns 325 acres 
in his home farm and 120 acres in Hutton 
Tp., all but 40 acres of which he im- 
proved himself, cutting oft" and sawing the 
timber in his mills, Mr. Prevo served three 
years as School Director of his district, 
previous to his removal to Charleston in 
1867, and while a resident of that city, 
served four years on the Board of Alder- 
men, two of which he was a member of the 
Water Works Board ; he served one year 
on the Board of Supervisors, and three 
years on the Board of Education ; he was 
one of the organizers of the Second Na- 
tional Bank, and for two years a Director 
in that institution. 

S. E. RAY, dealer in dry and fancy 
goods, boots and shoes, etc., Charleston ; 
was born near Montpelier, Vt., Aug. 5, 
1833; in early childhood, he accompanied 
his parents to Geauga Co. (now Lake), 
Ohio ; there, his father resided until his 
death, and his mother still resides there ; 
at about the age of 20 years,- Mr. Ray 
went to La Fayette, Ind., and engaged as a 
traveling salesman for Luce Brothers in 
the stationery business ; and, after remain- 
ing with them four years, went to Chicago, 
and for about six years traveled for the 
well-known stationery house of Culver, 
Page, Hoyne & Co., establishing the Mem- 
phis branch of that house, under the name 
of C. H. Chamberlain & Co., which con- 
tinued until after the breaking-out of the 
war; in 1862, he returned to Chicago, 
and the following year came to Charleston 
and engaged in the' livery business ; in 
1875, he disposed of his business, and en- 
g:iged in merchandising. Mr. Ray was 



married March 31, 1863, to Miss Josephine 
Bunnell, of Charleston ; she died Sept. 
18, 1867, leaving one child — Henrietta, 
since deceased. He was married again 
Dec. 10, 1867, to Mrs. Elizabeth J. Will- 
hoit, of Edgar Co., 111., and has one child 
— Samuel A. Mr. Ray is President of 
the Board of Education of Charleston, of 
which he has been a member for the past 
two years, and has served two terms on the 
Board of Aldermen. 

WILLIAM RICKETTS, land agent 
and conveyancer, Charleston ; was born in 
Alleghany Co., Md., March 3, 1813 ; his 
father, Joshua Ricketts was of an old Mary- 
land family in Colonial days ; his mother 
was Sarah Taylor, a daughterof John Tay- 
lor, of Connecticut, who was a soldier of 
the Revolution, and was wounded at the bat- 
tle of Bunker Hill and afterward at the bat- 
tle of Brandy Wine ; Mr. Ricketts' parents 
removed, in 1813, to Zanesville, Ohio ; he 
is the seventh in age of a fiimily of thir- 
teen ; he was raised on a farm. He was 
first married Sept. 11, 1834, in Putnam, 
Ohio, to Miss Ellen Alexander of that 
place, who died Sept. 8, 1850, leaving five 
children — John A., Ann (wife of T. E. 
Wood), Andrew A., Joshua T. and William 
G. ; they are all residents of Charleston 
except Andrew A., who is a traveling 
agent for the Chicago & Paducah Railroad 
Co. ; and resides in Windsor, Shelby Co., 111. 
Mr. Ricketts was married again Sept. 11, 
1851, to Miss Susan Falls of Zanesville, 
Ohio ; they have four children living — - 
Charles L., Emma (now Mrs. Henley 
Anderson, of Charleston), Ella and Edward 
W. In April, 1854, Mr. Ricketts removed 
with his family to Charleston, and engaged 
with his brother Joshua Ricketts in the 
marble business, in which he continued 
until about the breaking-out of the late 
war, when he opened an office as U. S. 
Claim Agent, which he has continued in 
connection with a general real estate and 
conveyancing business to the present time. 
He is at present Township School Treasurer, 
to which he was elected in 1874 ; he was 
appointed U. S. Commissioner some twelve 
years ago, and still acts in that capacity. 

A. F. SHAW, Police Magistrate, 
Charleston ; is a native of Illinois ; he was 
born in Paris, Edgar Co., Feb. 10, 1824; 
he is a son of Smith and Elizabeth Shaw ; 
his father was born in North Carolina ; 

2 



532 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



was raised in South Carolina, and when a 
young man, emifirated to Tennessee, and 
from there to Kentucky ; he was one of 
the pioneers of Missouri, from which State 
he was several times driven by the In- 
dians ; he afterward came to Illinois, long 
prior to its admission as a State, and 
finally, in 1822, settled in Paris, where he 
died about sixteen years later ; Mr. Shaw 
learned the saddler's trade at the age of 
15, and followed it till the breakingoutof 
the Mexican war ; he then volunteered in 
Col. Baker's -1th I. V. I., and was elected 
2d Lieutenant of Co. H ; he marched 
with Gen. Taylor's army through Mexico, 
from Matamoras to Tampico, and afterward 
participated in the siege of Vera Cruz and 
the battle of Cerro Gordo ; returning at 
the end of a year's service, he engaged in 
business in Paris. In 1S50, he crossed the 
plains to California, and engaged in min- 
ing ; on his return, three years later, he 
went to Carthage, Hancock Co., 111., where 
he carried on the saddlery business till 
1856. He was married in May, 1854, to 
Miss Lucy A. Bunnell, a daughter of 
William Bunnell, of Charleston ; in 1856, 
he removed to Charleston, and after a short 
time returned to Paris, where he resided 
till 1869, since which time he has been a 
resident of Charleston ; he kept the Union 
House till 1874, when he was chosen 
Police Magistrate. He has three children 
living — Franklin F., Oro E., and Bessie 
N. 

L. L. SILVERTHORN, M. D., phy- 
sician and surgeon, Charleston ; was born 
in Stroudsburg, Monroe, Co., Penn., Oct. 
21, 1830; his early life was passed upon 
a farm ; he was the youngest of a fiimily 
of twelve children, and his father being in 
moderate circumstances, he was thrown 
upon his own resources, and obtained only 
such an education as the common schools 
aftorded ; in 1850, he began teaching 
school, which he continued at intervals for 
three years; in 1852, he entered upon the 
study of medicine, in Fond du Lac, Wis.; 
in 1854, he came to Charleston and con- 
tinued his studies under the instruction of 
Dr. T. B. Trower ; in September, 1855, he 
went to Philadelphia, and attended a 
course of lectures in the Jefferson Medical 
College, in that city ; returning to Charles- 
ton, he began the practice of his profession, 
which he has continued for twenty-two 



years; he is a member of the .i^sculapian 
Society of the Wabash Valley, of which 
he has been Vice President, and also of 
the American Medical Association. He 
was married October 8, 1856, to Miss 
Amerial Trower, a daughter of the late 
Dr. T. B. Trower, of Charleston, and has 
two children — John T. and Clara M. 

RICHARD STODDERT, far., stock- 
dealer and merchant, Charleirton ; was 
born in Grayson Co., Ky., March 28, 
1812; his early life was passed on his 
father's farm, and when quite young, he 
was apprenticed to learn the tanner's trade ; 
about the year 1831, he went to Madison- 
ville, Hopkins Co., Ky., where he re- 
mained until 1838, when he came to 
Charleston ; he engaged in the tanning 
business with his brother, Thomas Stod- 
dert, the firm being R. & T. Stoddert, the 
partnership continuing for about thirty years 
in tanning, merchandising, farming and 
dealing in stock ; they had at one time 
about 800 acres of land in the county ; in 
1870, Mr. Stoddert began the hardware 
and luuiber business with W. S. Minton, 
who afterward disposed of his interest to 
George Steigman ; since 1876, the firm 
has been R. Stoddert & Sons ; Mr. Stod- 
dert still continues his farming and stock 
operations, having a farm of nearly five 
hundred acres in Charleston and Hickory 
Tps. His firsit county office was that of 
Treasurer of Coles Co., to which he was 
elected in .1839, serving two terms, after 
which he was for tWo years Shcrifl' of the 
county ; he has served as Commissioner of 
Highways, School Trustee and two terms 
on the Board of Supervisors; in 1873, he 
was elected County Cleik, and held that 
ofiice four years. He was first married 
Dec. 25, 1844, to Miss Catharine Rizor, of 
Charleston; she died in February, 1872, 
leaving five children — Benjamin (who was 
born in Charleston Feb. 4, 1846, and is 
now in the hardware and lumber business 
with his father), Harry (who was born 
Dec. 8, 1847; educated in the publii- 
schools and at Westfield College, 111 ; mar- 
ried Nov. 12, 1873, to Miss Zulima Pin- 
atcl, daughter of Charles Pinatel, of 
Charleston, and has two children — Chark- 
Richard and Catharine ; he is of tin 
firm of R. Stoddert & Sons), Thomas i - 
law student in Charleston), Frank and 
Fremont. Mr. Stoddert Wiis married a 



CHARLESTON TOWNSHIP. 



53? 



second time, April 27, 1875, to Mrs. G. 
H. Robinson, of Madisonville, Ky. 

THOMAS STODDERT, merchant, 
farmer and stock-dealer, Charleston; among 
the early settlers of Coles Co. was the 
Stoddert family, consisting of the mother, 
Mrs. Mary Stoddert, and nine children, 
who came from Grayson Co., Ky., at dif- 
ferent times from 1836 to 1838; they are 
descended from the old Massachusetts 
family of Stodderts, their grandfather, 
Benjamin Stoddert, being a Major in the 
Revolutionary war, and was wounded at 
the battle of Brandywine ; he was after- 
ward the second Secretary of the United 
States Navy ; Gen. Ewell, of the Confed- 
erate army in the war of the rebellion, 
was a cousin; their father, Benjamin Stod- 
dert, removed to Kentucky about 1810, 
and died about 1833 ; of the nine children 
who came to Coles Co., as above stated, 
Richard and Thomas reside in Charleston ; 
Benjamin, William and Campbell are de- 
ceased ; Sarah is living in Covington, Ind.; 
Harriet lives in Charleston, the wife of C. 
R. Briggs; Elizabeth is the wife of Dr. A. 
M. Henry, of Mattoon, Susan (Mrs. 
Glover) resides in Ottawa, Kan., and the 
youngest, Artimisia, died in Charleston ; 
their mother died in Charleston some ten 
years ago ; Thomas Stoddert was born in 
Grayson Co., Ky., Feb. 28, 1815 ; he was 
the first of the family to come to Coles Co. ; 
he came in 1836, and engaged in tanning, 
continuing in that business till 1851 ; in 
1849, he drove an ox-team across the plains 
to California, returning the following year, 
aud engaging in merchandising; in 1854, he 
went into stock-raising and farming, which 
he continued till 1875 ; he then resumed 
mercantile business, the firm being T. Stod- 
dert & Son ; he is now engaged in farming 
and stock business, in connection with his 
merchandising, owning a farm of 363 acres 
adjoining the city ; he also owns consider- 
able town property; in 1871, he, with 
John B. Hill and I. H. Johnson, built the 
Charleston Pork-Packing Houses. Mr. 
Stoddert was married Dec. 25, 1850, to 
Miss Melissa Olmstead, of Coles Co., and 
has three chOdren living — William (now 
in business with his father), .Mary and^ 
Thomas. 

ARTHUR C. SHRIVER, of the firm 
of A. C. Shriver & Sons, dealers in stoves, 
tinware and house-furnishing goods, 



Charleston ; was born in Fleming Co., 
Ky., Jan. 30, 1813 ; when he wa.s about 
10 years old, his parents removed to Adams 
Co., Ohio; at the age of 18, he went to 
Hillsboro, in Highland Co., Ohio, to learn 
the tinner's trade ; after which, he worked 
as a journeyman in Ohio and Kentucky 
for a number of years; in 1836, he began 

j business for himself in Augusta, Ky., re- 

I moving a few years later to Felicity, Cler- 

I mont Co., Ohio, and there carried on the 
stove and tinware business for nearly twenty 
years with the exception of a short time 
when he was in the same business in Cin- 

j cinnati ; in 1858, he removed to Charles- 
ton, and engaged in business, Dr. Byrd 

i Monroe being his first AVestern partner ; 

] since then, many changes have occurred, 
but Mr. Shriver has remained the leader 
in his line of business during all the 
changes of the past twenty years; the 
firm now consists of himself and two sons 
— George A. Shriver and Charles W. 
Shriver ; they do the largest business in 
their line of any house in the smaller towns 
of Illinois, carrying a well selected stock 
of stoves, tinware, queensware, glassware, 
silverware and cutlery ; they keep every- 
thing of the kind that any one could want, 
are polite to their customers, and make it 
a point to sell lower than any one else. 

' Mr. Shriver was married May 4, 1837, to 
Miss Nancy Maifett, who was born Jan. 
17, 1815. We give the following sketch 
of their children : William F. Shriver 
was born Nov. 14, 1839. and married June 

' 10, 1862, to Miss Mary P. Hanks, a niece 
of President Lincoln, Mrs. Lincoln giving 
her her own name of Mary ; they have 
two sons ; Ann Eliza Shriver was born 
Feb. 11, 1842, and died May 31, 1843; 
Albena Shriver was born July 11, 1845, 
and married 0. B. Murray, a navy banker 

. and claim agent of Baltimore, Md., Jan. 

i 30, 1865 ; he died in Chicago Aug. 10, 
1870, leaving one daughter Alice, born in 
Baltimore, Md. ; Mrs. Murray married R. 
B. Anderson, of Charleston, in 1873, and 

! moved to Little Rock, Ark., in 1876; 
George A. Shriver was born in Felicity, 
Ohio, Dec. 10, 1847, and married Miss 
Julia Hamlin, in 1871; he learned the 
tinner's trade when quite young, and as a 
workman and salesman is very .successful'; 
he is book-keeper of the firm of A. C. 
Shriver & Sons, of which he is a member; 



534 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



Charles W. Shriver was born in Felicity, 
Ohio, Oct. 18, 1S51 ; he isa member of 
the firm, is an expert in his business, and 
honorable in his dealings ; he was mar- 
ried in September, 1876, to Miss Ida V. 
Ramsey, of McConnellsville,Ohio ; they have 
one Son. Arthur C, born March 81, 1878; 
Callie Shriver was born April G, 1854 ; 
was married Jan. 31, 1872, to Joseph 
Landers, of Charleston ; they have had 
one daughter Katie, who died about a year [ 
ago, at 3 years of age. 

GEORGE STEIGMAN, Charleston, of I 
the firm of Steigman, Wilson & Co., pro- 
prietor of the Charleston Pork-Packing 
Houses ; was born in Dimboeh, County of 
Weinsberg, Kingdom of Wurtemberg, 
Germany, Aug. 5, 1827 ; he was raised 
on a farm, and, in 1853, came to the 
United States, spent one year in Meadville, 
Crawford Co., Penn., and coming thence 
to Owen Co., Ind., where he followed 
farming one year ; in 1855, he came to 
Charleston and engaged in farming, which 
he continued eight years ; he then kept a 
meat-market until 1871, when he revisited 
his native country, spending eight mouths; 
returning, he followed the hardware and 
lumber business four years ; in August, 
1878, he became one of the proprietors of 
theCharleston Pork-Paeking Houses, a full 
description of which will be found in the 
historical part of this work. Mr. -teigman 
has been prosperous in business, and is one 
of the solid men of the community, own- J 
ing two farms in the county besides his 
property in town ; he has served three 
terms ;is a member of the City Council, 
and has been City Treasurer for the past 
three years. He was married Feb. 2G, 
1854, to Miss Rosina Ernst, of Wurtem- 
berg, Germany ; they have had one child 
— John C, born Dec. 3, 1854, and died 
March 22, 1S5G. 

R. A. TRAVER, of the firm of Traver 
& NixdU, manufa(:turers of and dealers in 
brooms, brushes, etc., Charleston; was 
born in Schenectady Co., N. Y., Aug. 19, 
1837 ; he was raised on a fiirm ; in 1856, 
he removed with his parents to Brooklyn, 
N. Y., where, for two years, he was em- 
ployed as a book-keeper for A. VV. Hen- 
dricksori & Co., coal-dealers; in 1858, he 
went til Harrison Co., W. Va., where he was 
engaged in farming and carpentering till 
1867 ; he then came to Clark Co., [11., and I 



engaged in the broom business, but soon 
afterward removed to Charleston, where he 
established the Charleston Broom-Factory, 
and has been an enterprising citizen of 
the city ever since ; he is at present a mem- 
ber of the Board of Aldermen. His part- 
ner in the business, M. C. Nixon, is a na- 
tive of Harrison Co., W. Va., his father 
being one of the most prominent farmers 
in that part of the State ; at the age of 18, 
he went to Pittsburgh, Penn., where he 
received a thorough business education in 
the Iron City Bu.siness College ; he then 
spent a few years in traveling in the West, 
and, in 1874, came to Charleston and en- 
tered into partuership with Mr. Traver. 
Wheo Mr. Traver came to Charleston, 
there were but about fifteen acres of broom- 
coru cultivated in Coles Co.; its culture is 
now one of the chief sources of wealth, es- 
pecially in the northern part of the county ; 
there are thousands of acres cultivated an- 
nually, and the amount is constantly in- 
creasing ; this firm alone has raised, dur- 
ing the past year, 500 acres. The im- 
portance of this enterprise to the city of 
Charleston will appear when it is considered 
that they employ in their factory about 
seventy men and boys, who, were it not 
for this, would be obliged to seek employ- 
ment elsewhere ; they do a business of 
§60,000 per annum, manufacturing 30,000 
dozen brooms yearly, besides a large quan- 
tity of brushes and toy brooms ; they pay 
out yearly to their employes fully $15,000 ; 
they keep three salesmen on the road, 
including Mr. Nixon, aud their trade ex- 
tends to all parts of the country, the most 
of it being in the Southern States, New 
Orleans being their heaviest shipping 
point, their nest heaviest trade being in 
Georgia and Texas ; the extent of their 
trade can be estimated from the fact that, 
during the past fall they were 1,000 dozen 
behind their orders, notwithstanding they 
were turning imt at the time a 100 dozen 
brooms a day ; they are the owners of the 
Charleston Elevator and Broom Ware- 
house, and also own a broom-corn com- 
press for rebaling the corn for shipment, 
being, probably, the tmly machine of its 
kind in the United States. Mr. Traver is 
the author of " Traver's Broom-Corn Cult- 
urist and Broom-Makers' Manual," the 
only work on the subject in the country, 
a well-written pamphlet, giving directions 



CHARLESTON TOWNSHIP. 



535 



for the raising, cutting, curing and pre- 
paring of broom-corn for market, etc. ; they 
are also dealers in broom machines, of which 
they ship large numbers to the Western 
States and Territories. 

DANIEL H. TREMBLE, Deputy 
County Treasurer, Charleston ; was born 
in Harrison Co., Ind., Aug. 28, 1829 ; the 
following year, his father, Hiram M. 
Tremble, came with his family to this 
county, and, after spending a short time 
in what is now Maltoon Tp., went to 
Shelby Co., and there resided until 1833, 
when he returned to Coles Co., and is now 
a prominent farmer in Mattoon Tp. The 
subject of this sketch started for himself 
in 1851, as a teacher; he taught school 
two winters; in 1852, he engaged in 
farming, and, after gathering his first crop, 
came to Charleston, where he worked 
three months at the carpenter's trade, 
which he had learned of his father, who 
was a carpenter by trade ; after this, he 
spent six months in an academy in George- 
town, Vermilion Co., 111.; the following 
spring, his father took a contract to grade 
twenty miles of the Illinois Central R. R., 
and Daniel H. assisted him in the work ; 
in 18.54, he engaged in merchandising in 
Paradise, and, in 1856, removed to Mat- 
tnon and continued in trade there two 
years, when he sold out and engaged as a 
clerk ; in 1862, he was elected Constable, 
and, in the spring of 1863, Collector of 
his township ; in the fall of the same year, 
he was elected Treasurer of Coles Co., and 
held that oflfice three terms in succession ; 
after the expiration of his last term, he 
served four years as Deputy County Clerk. 
In 1872, he purchased a farm of 175 acres, 
about two miles from the city, on which 
he now resides. He was appointed Deputy 
County Treasurer in December, 1 877. He 
was married Aug. 24, 185-t, to Miss Cath- 
arine H. Hunt, of Paradise, a native of 
Wayne Co., Ind.; they have eight children 
living — John F., Thomas P., Daniel U., 
Carrie S., Eugene H., Manning H., Sam- 
uel W. and Pompey M. 

THOMAS B. TROWER, M. D., de- 
ceased, late of Charleston ; was born in 
Albemarle Co., Va., Nov. 15, 1807, his 
parents removing to Kentucky a few years 
later; his father died in 1816, leaving a 
wife and nine children ; he began the study 
of medicine when he was 19 years old, 



spending three years under the instruction 
of Drs. Beamiss and Merryfield, of Bloom- 
field, Ky., teaching school a portion of the 
time to obtain means to defray his expenses ; 
he came to Illinois in 1830, and practiced 
medicine six years in Shelbyville ; in 1 836, 
he removed to Charleston and engaged in 
merchandising, which business he aban- 
doned after three years and resumed 
the practice of his profession ; his 
practice was a large and lucrative 
one, extending over a wide scope of 
country, embracing all of Coles Co., and 
a portion of surrounding counties, and his 
ac((uaintance with the pioneers of this sec- 
tion of the State was correspondingly ex- 
tensive; his standing among physicians was 
very high, indeed, and his opinions in their 
councils most thoroughly respected ; he 
was a member of the Eberlean Medical 
Society, of the ..^isculapian Society of the 
Wabash Valley, and of the State Medical 
Society ; not only was he prominent as a 
physician, but was possessed of business 
abilities of the highest order, and by his 
financial skill and industry amassed a large 
fortune ; he was President of the Moultrie 
County Bank, of Sullivan, 111., and Vice 
President of the First National Bank, of 
Charleston ; while living in Shelbyville, he 
represented his county for three years in 
the State Legislature. He was also a del- 
egate to the Constitutional Convention in 
1847. He was married Dec. 22, 1831, to 
Miss Polly Ann Cutler, daughter of Judge 
Jacob Cutler; she came with her parents 
to Illinois in 1828, lived awhile in Edgar 
Co., removing thence to Shelbyville, where 
.she met, and married Dr. Trower ; they 
had five children, four of whom are living 
— Amerial (wife of Dr. L. L. Silverthorn, 
of Charleston), Sinia Antonia (Mrs. Rich- 
ard Norfolk, of Charleston), Sallie (wife of 
Daniel Sayer, a prominent merchant, of 
Chicago) and Xavier B. (a banker in Sul- 
livan, 111., one son, John A''., editor of the 
Fort Madison (Iowa ) Democrat, died in 
Dallas, Tex., Nov. 18, 1875; Dr. Trower 
died April 15, 1878, and was buried in 
Mound Cemetery, Charleston. 

SAMUEL VAN METER, M. D., 
physician and surgeon, Charleston ; was 
borrt in Grayson Co., Ky., Nov. 8, 
1824; he is a son of John and 
Catharine (Keller) Van Meter, the for- 
mer of whom died in 1827 : his 



536 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



moth(U' then removed with her family 
to Illinois, settling in Coles Co. ; he re- 
ceived snch education as the common 
schools in those pioneer days afforded ; at 
the age of 15 years, he was apprenticed to 
the tanner's trade, but before completing 
his apprenticeship he purchased his time 
of his employer, and was in turn bound to 
Dr. T. B. Trower, and entered upon the 
more congenial employment of studying 
medicine ; he remained under Dr. Trow- 
er's instruction five years ; in 1849, he 
made the overland trip to California, the 
journey occupying five months, during 
which time he had an extensive practice 
as a physician among the emigrants cross- 
ing the plains ; he remained eighteen months 
in California and then returned to Charles- 
ton and practiced medicine three years with 
Dr. Trower, after which he began practice 
by himself; in 1857, he founded the Illi- 
nois Infirmary in Charleston, the fame of 
which extended to all parts of the country, 
patients coming from the Pacific Coast, and 
from England and other countries beyond 
the sea ; his partner in tliis institution for 
a number of years was Dr. H. R. Allen, 
now one of the proprietors of the National 
Surgical Institute at Indianapolis ; as an 
illustration of the success of the Infirmary, 
we maj' mention that the gross receipts 
during the year 1868 were $186,000, and 
the expenditure for the one item of postage 
stamps alone averaged $1,400 per month; 
it continued to enjoy a high reputation 
and uninterrupted success until 1877, 
when the doctor, worn out with his con- 
stant and arduous labors, closed the insti- 
tution and retired from the active practice 
of his profession. He was married Oct. 
8, 1845, to Fannie E. Hutchison, of 
Greensburg, Ky. ; of three children of this 
marriage, two are now living in Charles- 
ton—Katie (wife of C. C. Rogers) and 
John (one of the proprietors of the City 
Millsj ; their oldest daughter, Fannie K, 
wife of J. W. Oscden, of Chicago, died 
in 1870. 

DAxNIEL A. VAN SICKLE, proprietor 
of the Charli'Stnn Hotel, Charleston; was 
born in Trenton, Butler Co., Ohio, Oct. 20, 
1833, being the oldest Son of .]. C. and Be- 
linda (Craig) Van Sickle; his father was 
born inTreuton, Ohio, May 31, 1811, and 
his mother at Ball's Ferry, on the iVIiami 
River, in Butler Co., Ohio, Dec. 17, 1815. 



The family consisted of nine children, a.s 
follows — Daniel A. Jasper, born Jan. 3, 
1836, and died Nov. 12, 1868; Sally A., 
born March 19, 1838 ; Caroline, born June 
20, 1841, and died Feb. 26, 1866; John 
'Wesley, born March 18, 1843; George 
W., born Aug. 17, 1846 ; Newton, born 
Dec. 23, 1848, died Aug. 24, 1850 ; Craig, 
born Feb. 23, 1851, died March 15, 1853, 
and Charles P., born July 10, 1853. At 
the age of 17 years, Mr. Van Sickle be- 
gan with Schenck & Denice, of Franklin, 
Warren Co., Ohio, to learn the horseshoe- 
ing bu.siness, and followed that trade alto- 
gether about fourteen years. In 1854, his 
father removed with the family to Coles 
Co., and about ten years ago, he removed 
to Girard, Macoupin Co., 111., where he 
died Sept. 25, 1876. His mother still re- 
sides in Girard. During his residence in 
Charleston, he has been engaged six years 
as a clerk in the wholesale and retail 
grocery house of Wright, Minton & Co.; 
has served as City Marshal, Street Superin- 
tendent and Township Collector, and has 
traveled five years selling groceries from 
Indianapolis. He was married Aug. 27, 
1.857, to Miss Belinda Wehr, a daughter 
of Nathan and Harriet (Flenner) Wehr ; 
she was born Aug. 28, 1839, near Hamil- 
ton, Butler Co., Ohio, and came to Coles 
Co. in 1853 ; they have one daughter — 
Louisa Bell, born Aug. 16, 1858. April 
1, 1878, Mr. Van Sickle became proprie- 
tor of the Charleston Hotel. Whether 
shoeing a horse or selling groceries, his 
aim has always been to excel, and on as- 
•suming charge of this house, he determined 
to keep such a house as should deserve the 
patronage of the public and should earn 
the title of a strictly first-class hotel. His 
experience as a traveling man enables him 
to understand and appreciate the wants of 
the traveling public. How well he has 
succeeded is shown by the large and con- 
stantly-increasing patronage of the hotel. 
Genial in manner and accommodating in 
disposition, he makes every one feel at home 
at once, and in the variety and quality of 
its fare, and in attention to the comforts of 
its guests, the Charleston Hotel is not ex- 
celled by any house between Indianapolis 
and St. Louis. 

ISAAC VAIL, proprietor of livery, feed 
and sale stable, Charleston ; was born in 
Dutchess Co., N. Y., Nov. 29, 1833; 



CHARLESTON TOWNSHIP. 



537 



in 1839, Ills father removed with his 
family to Chautauqua Co., N. Y., and after 
residing there ten years, to Erie Co., Penu., 
thence the next year to Steuben Co., Ind., 
and, in 1851, to Coles Co.; his father located 
800 acres of Government land in Hickory 
Tp., four miles north of Charleston, at a cost 
of $700. Three years later he removed to 
Livingston Co., where he is a prominent 
farmer. Mr. Vail left home in 1852, 



driving an ox-team 
Oregon, and spent 
State and California. 



across the plains to 
three years in that 
He returned in 1855, 



and, the following year, erected a mill in 
Livingston Co., which he ran till the 
breaking-out of the rebellion. In August, 
1862, he enlisted in the 12llth I. V. I., as 
Sergeant in Co. E ; he was with Sherman 
from Chattanooga to Atlanta, and on the 
famous march to the sea, and up through 
the Carolinas and Virginia to Washington, 
participating in all the battles of his regi- 
ment. He returned in 1865, and the 
same year located in Charleston, and ran a 
planing-mill for two years. He then sold 
out and went to farming, and, in 1868, 
built his livery-stable, and engaged in his 
present business. He was a member of 
the Board of Aldermen which, in 1875, 
putin the Charleston Water Works at a cost 
of leas than $40,000, said to be the cheap- 
est works in the State. He was married 
in 1852 to Miss Rebecca Fi.sher of Coles 
Co., and has six children — William I. (now 
of San Francisco), Frank, Ida, Fred, Eva 
and May. 

THOMAS JEFFERSON WILSON 
was born in Barren Co., Ky., on Nov. 22, 
1825, and moved to Greensburg, Green 
Co., Ky., in 18-17, where, on June 8, 
1848, he was married to Lucy Ann 
Hutchason ; he was a wagon-maker by 
trade ; Lucy Ann Hutchason was born in 
Greensburg, Ky., on June 27, 1826 ; in 
April, 1857, Mr. Wilson removed with his 
family to Charleston, 111., where lie went 
into the employ of L. R. & B. M. 
Hutchason, his brothersin-law, who were 
in the dry goods trade. On Jan. 12, 

1859, his wife died in Charleston. In 

1860, he began business for himself, by 
buying the st^ck of dry goods owned by 
Jos. Peyton, in Charleston, and he removed 
his stock of goods, in 1861, to Ashmore ; 
there, by his methods of fair dealing and 
strict integrity in business, he soon estab- 



lished a flourishing trade, and became 
extensively known over the eastern portion 
of the county ; he died in Ashmore on 
Oct. 12, 1865, and lies buried by the 
side of his wife, in the old cemetery near 
Charleston. He and his wife were both 
members of the Christian Church, and he 
was an Elder in the same while a resident 
of Charleston ; both their lives were those 
of the most exemiilary Christians, and they 
were respected, trusted and beloved where- 
ever they were known. 

CHARLES EDWARD WILSON, son 
of above ; was born in Greensburg, Green 
Co., Ky., on May 1, 1849; when his 
fiither died in 1865, he, being the only 
child and only remaining one of the family, 
went to Charleston and lived with rela- 
tives, finisliing a common-school education 
during the following winter ; in the spring 
of 1867, he went to Omaha, Neb., and 
remained one year ; returning then to 
Charleston, he became a salesman in the 
queensware store of V. Craiar, and after- 
ward book-keeper for George Tucker, who 
was a manufacturer of pressed brick ; in the 
sjjring of 1871, he was elected to the office 
of City Clerk of the city of Charleston, for 
one year, and wa.s appointed by the City 
Council in the spring of 1872, to the 
same position for another year ; in the fall 
of 1871, he was employed at the infirmary 
of Dr. S. Van Meter ; ultimately became a 
partner in the firm, and retired from the 
same on Sept. 1st, 1876. On Nov. 
4, 1873, he was married to Miss Emily 
Johnston, daughter of I. H. Johnston, 



of Charleston ; she 
Co., on June 15, 
dren are the result 
daughters, as follows : 
1 874 ; Clotilde, born 



was born in Coles 
1851 ; three chil- 
of this marriage, all 
Olive, born Sept. 3, 
Dec. 23, 1876, and 



Emily, born Dec. 4, 1878. In November, 
1873, he was elected by the stockholders 
of the Coles County Board of Agriculture, 
Secretary of said Board, for one year. In 
November, 1870, he was elected Director 
of said Boird, which position he still holds; 
in March, 1876, he was made a Director 
of the Second National Bank of Charles- 
ton, in which position he still remains ; 
from September, 1876, until June, 1877, 
being engaged in no special business, he 
read law at the office of Wiley & Neal, in 
Charleston; on June 25, 1877, the firm of 
Chambers, Johnston & Co., pork-packers, 



538 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



was prganized for the purpose of packing 
pork during that summer and the fall fol- 
lowing ; Mr. Wilson became a member of 
that firm, and was its secretary and book- 
keeper ; on Sept. 30, 1878, he became 
associated with I. H. Johnston and George 
Steigman, under the firm name of Steig- 
man, Wilson & Co., in the business of 
pork-packing; and they have, at Charles- 
ton, the only packing-house in Illinois, 
outside of Chicago, adapted for both 
winter and summer packinsr. 

SAMUEL WRIGHT. Charleston ; w:is 
born in Delaware Co., Penn., Feb. 29, 
1808 ; when he was 9 years of age, he 
removed with his parents to Washington 
Co., in the same State, where he learned 
the trade of a carpenter and builder, and 
afterward taught school for seven years. 
He was married Aug. 20, 1829, to Miss 
Ruth Gordon, of Washington Co., Penn., 
and has four children living — William G. 
(of Charleston), Maria B. (wife of Dr. A. 
K. Spears, of Charleston), Matilda R. 
(Mrs. W. S. Minton, of Charleston), and 
Samuel H. (Corresponding Secretary of 
the National Surgical Institute, of Indian- 
apolis, Ind.) ; the last named served 
three years in the last war ; was promoted 
to Major of the .31st Mo. V. I., and after 
his return, was for four years Adjutant 
General of the State of Missouri ; in 1835, 
Mr. Wright removed to Ripley Co., Ohio, 
returning in 1846 to Pennsylvania; in 
1856, he came to Charleston, and followed 
his trade here till 1860 ; he was then elect- 
ed Justice of the Peace for four years, 
and again elected in 186-1; since the ex- 
piration of his term of office in 1868, he 
has been employed as a clerk in the store 
of his son, W. G. Wright, in Charleston. 

WILLI A. M G. WRIGHT, of the firm 
of W^right, Hodgen & Co., wholesale and 
retail dealers in groceries and provisions, 
Charleston ; was born in Washington Co., 
Penn., July 25, 1832 ; he was brought 
up to farming and his father's trade, of a 
carpenter ; he received an English educa- 
tion, and at the age of 18, began teach- 
ing school, which he continued three win- 
ters ; in the spring of 1854, he came to 
Hitesville, Coles Co., and on the 24th of Au- 
gust, the same year, he married Miss Sarah 
Bane, whom he had known in Pennsylva- 
nia, and who had removed with her par- 
ents to Coles Co. the year before ; they 



have six children — Mary Ida, Lulu May, 
Harry Warren, Florence and Nellie. In 
1856, he removed to Charleston and fol- 
lowed his trade till the fall of 1859, when 
he engaged as a clerk in the store of T. 
Hulman, with whom he continued until 
the fall of 1864; he then, with W. S. 
Minton and A. K. Spears, purchased the 
stock of Mr. Hulman, and engaged in 
merchandising, under the firm name of 
Wright, Minton & Co. till 1870, then till 
1872 as W. G. Wright & Co. ; Mr. Min- 
ton returning in 1872, the firm became 
W. S. Minton & Co., and so continued till 
1876, since when, it has been Wright, 
Hodgen i: Co. ; in 1868, Wright, Minton 
& Co. built the brick store which forms a 
portion of March s Block, and is now oc- 
cupied by R. Stoddert & Sons ; they were 
also for two years owners of the mill known 
as the Tinkey Mill in Charleston, and for 
two years were engaged in the house-fur- 
nishing business, in addition to their gro- 
cery trade. 

GODFREY WEBER, deceased, late of 
Charleston ; was born in Oberslingen, 
Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, Dec* 
24, 1820 : his father was a vineyardist, and 
his early years were passed among the 
vine-clad hills and sunny slopes of his na- 
tive land. He was married in August, 
1848, to Miss Frances Muller, who was 
born in Wisgoldingen, Wurtemberg, Ger- 
many, May 27, 1824; they immediately 
emigrated to America, and settled near 
Louisville, Ky., and engaged in gardening 
and wine-growing ; two years later, he re- 
moved to Clark Co., 111., and located on a 
farm near W^estficld, to which town he aft- 
erward removed, and worked in the 
Westfield Mill for eleven years; in 1866, 
he removed to Charleston, and engaged in 
the bakery and confectionery business, in 
which he continued till his death, which 
occurred Sept. 7, 1877 ; he left a wife, 
who still resides in Charleston, and ten 
children — William (a farmer in Hutton 
Tp.), I^ate (wife of John Hederich, of 
Charleston), Frederick C. (of Hutton Tp.), 
Louisa (Mrs. Schaun, of Charleston), 
Daniel, John and George (of Charleston), 
Emma E. (wife of William Louden, of 
Westfield, 111.), Matilda F. and Charles. 

DANIEL WEBER, of the firm of 
Weber Brothers, bakers and confection- 
ers, Charleston, is a son of Godfrey and 



MATTOON TOWNSHIP. 



539 



Frances (Muller) Weber; he was born in 
Westfield, 111., May 31, 1854, and came 
with his parents to Charleston in 186G ; 
he spent a part of his time on his father's 
farm in Hutton Tp., and a portion in the 
store in Charleston, and on the death of 
his father, in 1877, he, with his brother 
John, succeeded to the business. He was 
married April 29, 1878, to Miss Rosa 
Riegger, of Bloomington, 111. 

JOHN WEBER, the junior member of 
the firm of Weber Brothers, was also born 
in Westfield, Clark Co., HI., April 19, 
185(5, and came with the other members 
of the family to Charleston, at the age of 
1(1 years. 

<>UNTHER WEISS, of the firm of 
Weiss & Frommel, proprietors of the 
Charleston Woolen-Mill, Charleston ; was 
born in Leutenberg, Sharzburg, Rudol- 
stadt, Germany, July (3, 1823 ; he at- 
tended school till the age of 14, and was 



then apprenticed to learn the weaver's 
trade; in 1845, he came to the United 
States, landing in Galveston, Texas ; on 
the breaking-out of the war with Mexico, 
he volunteered in the 1st Tex. V. I., and 
served tinder Gen. Taylor; in the spring 
of 1848, he went to Cincinnati, where 
he remained until 1852, when he went to 
Terre Haute, Ind., and began business as 
a grocery and provision merchant, which 
he continued for twenty-two years ; in 
1874, he came to Charleston, and assumed 
an active part in the management of the 
Charleston Woolen-Mill, in which he had 
been a partner since 1869. Mr. Weiss 
was married Nov. 17, 1853, to Miss Carrie 
Newhart, of Cincinnati, a native of Bava- 
ria, Germany ; they have eight children — 
Otto P., Emma (wife of Alfred C. Fick- 
lin, of Charleston), Louise, Aurora, Hel- 
ena, Adolph G., Carrie and Maria. 



MATTOON TOWNSHIP. 



M. ALSHULER, staple and fancy dry 
goods, Mattoon ; was born in Bavaria. Ger- 
many, A. D. 1836 ; his early life was spent 
in school ; having acquired a good educa- 
tion, in February, 1852, he immigrated to 
America, and first located in Danville, 111., 
where he engaged as clerk in a general dry 
goods store. In 1854. he went to Chicago, 
and was employed in a jewelry and fancy 
store, on Lake street ; he next located with 
the firm of Edsall & Co., in Terre Haute, 
Ind., and remained with that firm seven 
years ; with another firm he remained three 
years longer, and, in 1865, came to Mattoon ; 
here the dry goods firm of Alshuler, Aaron 
& Co. was formed, and continued one year ; 
the firm of C. & M. Alshuler was next 
formed, and existed eleven years. In the 
spring of 1876, the firm of C. &. M. Al- 
shuler was dissolved, and that of M. 
Alshuler & Co. formed. To Mr. Alshuler 
must be accorded, and justly, too, the 
honor of opening up the first exclusively 
dry goods establishment in the city ; prior 
to his example, merchandising in Mattoon 
had been conducted on the plan of "'ye 
olden times, " when each carried in stock 
a line of dry goods, groceries, queensware. 



drugs, hardware, etc., etc. ; under hi 
healthfiil example, business soon became 
classified ; by strict attention to business, 
fair dealing, and the establishment of a 
" one price " system, strictly adhered to, 
he has succeeded in building up a large 
and remunerative business, and now oper- 
ates the largest and most prosperous dry 
goods establishment in the city. He was 
married Sept. 13, 1871, to Fannie Frank, 
a native of Cincinnati, Ohio ; have two 
children — Cora and Damon T. 

J. L. AUBERT, County Surveyor, 
Mattoon; was born in Licking Co., Ohio, 
Nov. 3, 1830 ; his father was a tiller of the 
soil, and his early life was that of a farmer's 
son ; at the age of 18, he began work at 
the carpenter's trade, and worked under 
instniction three years. In 1854, became 
West and settled in Moultrie Co., III., 
where he purchased land, farmed some, 
but for the most part followed his trade. 
In July, 1865, he located in Lebanon, St. 
Clair Co. ; here he remained three years, 
during which time he contracted and built 
the public school buildings and the M. E. 
Church. In 1868, he lived a short time 
in Shelbyville, and removed from there to 



540 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



Jacksonville, El., where he was engaged on 
the Court House, the East Centenary 
Church, and on improvements to the 
Christian Church ; he began the study 
of surveying many years ago, un- 
der the direction of J. R. Anderson, 
his brother-io-law, formerly County Sur- 
veyor in Ohio, and later ot Moultrie Co., 
Dl. Mr. Aubert was elected Surveyor of 
Coles Co. in November, 1875. He was 
married in 1858 to Minerva R. Morgan, 
a native of Licking Co., Ohio. 

J. I. AYER, book and music store, 
Mattoon ; was born in Medford. Mass., 
Feb. 3, 1854. In 1866, tlie family moved 
to Elizabeth, N. J.; in addition to his 
common-school education, he enjoyed the 
advantages of a boarding-school at Naza- 
reth, Penn. ; this school was of a military 
character, and he here pursued a course in 
civil engineeriog ; at the age of 15 years 
he entered the firm of Roberts & Co. 
(dealers in books and stationery ), at Eliza- 
beth, N. J., to take charge of his father's 
interest, he beins^ a member of the firm. 
In the fall of 1870, he came West to Illi- 
nois, and settled in Mattoon, and en- 
gaged in engineering on the Decatur, 
Mattoon & Sullivan and the Grayville & 
Mattoon Railroads ; he was thus employed 
about three years; in 1874, he was em- 
ployed as book-keeper in the Essex House, 
and remained till March, 1878; in Novem- 
ber, 1877, he purchased his present business, 
and since March, 1878, has given it his 
personal supervision. He was married in 
August, 1870, to Mary L. Cleveland, a na- 
tive of Melrose, Mass. ; hasone daughter — 
Mary L., born Aug. 20, 1878. Mr. Ayer 
is a relative of the world-renowned Dr. J. 
C. Ayer, of Lowell, Mass. 

V. R. BRIDGES, M. D., physician and 
surgeon, Mattoon; was born in Rocking- 
ham Co., Va., June 4, 1832 ; his fiither 
settled in Ross Co., Ohio, near Chillicothe, 
in 1836; in 1841, he came to Illinois and 
settled in Newton, Jasper Co.; he was on- 
gaged in contracting on public works, both 
in Ohio and Illiuois. Dr. Bridges acquired 
a good academic education, mainly through 
his own exertions, and at the ago of 14, 
began life for himself At the age 
of 17, he taught his first school ; in 
1851, he was employed in the drugstore of 
Dr. H. H. Huyes, at Lawronceville, 111., 
and began the study of medicine under 



him. He next came to Marshall, and 
completed his studies under Drs. Payne 
and Duncan. In the spring of 1854, he 
located in Salisbury, Coles Co., and began 
the practice of his profession. In 1860, he 
came to Mattoon, his present residence. 
He entered the U. S. service as Assistant 
Surgeon of the 62d Regiment, I. V. I ; in 
1863, he was promoted to be Surgeon of 
the 126th Regiment, and was mustered out 
in 1865, after the close uf the war; soon 
after his discharge from the service, he was 
appointed Examining Surgeon for the Pen- 
sion Bureau — a position he still holds. In 
1876, he attended Rush Medical College, 
from which he graduated Feb. 27, 1877. 
He was married Jan. 8, 1856, to Mary 
E. Boyd, a native of Indiana ; four chil- 
dren have been the fruits of the union — 
Flora J. and Charles M., living, Edward 
L. and Emma, deceased. Has been a 
member of the City Council a number of 
terms, and was President of the Board two 
terms. 

WM. BURGESS, manufacturer and 
dealer in boots and shoes, Mattoon ; was 
born in North Molton, Devonshire, Eng., 
Oct. 12, 1827 ; he emigrated to America 
in May, 1849 ; for two years after coming, 
he followed his trade in Syracuse, N. Y.; 
he subsequently lived at various points in 
New York, Cortland, Elmira, Tioga 
Point, Bath, Corwin, Addison, etc. In 
the spring of 1855, he returned to En- 
gland remaining one year. In 1856, he 
returned to America, stopping for a season 
in New York ; thence to Pennsylvania ; 
thence back to New York. In June, 1857, 
he went to Canada, remained but a short 
time, and next went to Michigan ; thence 
to La Fayette, Ind., from there to Coving- 
ton, Ind.; thence to Decatur, 111. During 
these years he followed his trade. In May, 
1860, he came to Mattoon and opened up 
his present store. Ho is the oldest estab- 
lished boot and shoe merchant iu the city. 
He was married in November, 1862, to Ag- 
ncsEvans, a native of England ; three child- 
ren have been born to them — Mary E., Em- 
ily F., living ; Jennie, deceased ; they have 
also an adopted son— Richard. Owns forty 
acres in Mattoon Tp. ; also two business 
houses and a residence in the city. Is at 
present a member of the City Council. 

J. J. BE ALL, student at law, Mattoon ; 
was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, Nov. 26, 



MATTOON TOWNSHIP. 



541 



1843 ; his father came with his family to 
Illinois in the fall of 1852, and settled in 
Wayne Co. Here he engaged in farming. 
The subject of this sketch passed his lite 
upon the farm and obtained his education at 
the common schools. In February', 18G2,he 
left home, and began the trade of saddle and 
harness maker ; he worked under instruc- 
tion three years; he then worked as jour- 
neyman at his trade till 1870 ; in Decem- 
ber, 1870, he was appointed Deputy Sheriff 
of Coles Co., under A. M. Brown, Sheriff. 
This position he held two years. In 1873, 
he was elected Justice of the Peace in 
Mattoon Tp., and served four years. In 
May, 1877, he began work again at his 
trade, and Jan. 28, 1878, entered the 
office of Craig & Craig as clerk and student. 
He was married Dec. 26, 1867, to Ellen 
McGuire, a native of Ireland. Has three 
children — James R., Julian E. and Louisa 
A. Owns real estate in the city. In 1874, 
he was chosen Assistant Supervisor of 
Mattoon Tp., in January, 1878, he was 
appointed and commissioned by Gov. Cul- 
lom a Notary Public for Coles Co. for four 
years. 

J. B. BENEFIEL, proprietor Boss 
Meat Market, Mattoon ; was born in 
Oaktown, Knox Co., Ind., April 22, 
1 847 ; his father was a physician and 
a man of far more than ordinary 
ability ; J. B. passed his early life in 
attendance upon school; in 1861, his 
father came with his family to Mattoon, 
111. ; here he entered upon the practice of 
his profession and succeeded in build- 
ing up a large and lucrative practice ; 
young Benefiel entered the graded schools 
of the city, designing to complete the 
course, preparatory to entering the law 
department of Michigan University ; his 
father having become involved in profes- 
sional difficulty in 1867, precipitately fled 
the country, abandoning his family, and 
under an assumed name has lived in Craig, 
Mo., ever since ; very recently he has been 
discovered, and has partially made restitu- 
tion to his family for past neglect ; on the 
desertion of his father, the cares of the 
family devolved upon the hands of J. B., 
the eldest of the children ; abandoning his ^ 
studies, he applied himself to the support 
of his mother and the younger members 
of the family ; in August, 1867, he en- 
tered the employ of the Merchants' Union 



Express Co., and, in the spring of 1868' 
that of the American Express Co ; he w;is 
thus employed about three years ; in 1871, 
he entered the employ of J. T. Southern 
in buying and shipping grain and in 
the sale of agricultural implements ; in the 
fall of 1873, he engaged in the manu- 
facture of soap in company with J. P. 
Clark ; in 1875, he began his pre.sent 
business, and has since continued it. He 
was married Jan. 21, 1874, to Ellen F, 
Aldridge, a native of Arkansas ; has had 
one child — Roy M., born Nov. 26, 1874, 
died Feb. 15, 1877. Owns real estate in 
the city. 

HON. HORACE S. CLARK, attorney 
at law, Mattoon ; was born in Huntsburg, 
Geauga Co., Ohio, Aug. 12, 1840; his 
father emigrated to Ohio from Vermont 
at an early day ; at the age of 1 5 years, 
with a fair education, he left the old home- 
stead and came West to Chicago, where he 
sought employm^t and labored a short 
time ; he soon left the city and going to 
Kane Co., engaged in farm work during 
the summer and attended school during 
the winter season, paying his wa}' by man- 
ual labor before and after school-hours ; in 
the spring of 1856, he reached lowaCity, 
and made his home with an older brother 
while pursuing a student life in Iowa State 
University ; here he soon became a leader 
among his fellow-students as an orator and 
debater ; during vacations, he engaged in 
teaching school, and in the law office of 
Justice William E. Miller ; read with at- 
tention and profit the works of Blackstone 
and various other treatises on law during 
the first year of his residence in Iowa 
City ; he returned to Kane Co., purchased 
ten cows, shipped them by rail to the city, 
and from the proceeds of the milk, palled 
by his own hands, defrayed his current 
expenses; in the spring of 1858, with a 
capital of $200, he speculated in fruit- 
trees, but failed to secure profitable returns; 
subsequently he went to St. Louis, and, 
purchasing various books, traveled over the 
country in order to dispose of them to 
advantage and profit ; later we find him 
again in Ohio, resuming his studies in the 
legal firm of Smith & Page, in Circleville. 
He enlisted as a private in Co. E, 73d 
Ohio V. I. ; was afterward Orderly Ser- 
geant, Second and First Lieutenant, in 
which last position he often commanded 



542 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



his company ; July 3, 1863, he was severly 
wounded in the battle of Gettysburg ; 
later, he was ofl'ered Lieutenant-Colonelcy 
by Gov. Todd, of Ohio, but not being able 
to take the field, declined the appointment. 
He next removed to Nashville, Tenn.; 
when in business pursuits he met with 
de.'ierved success ; in 1865, he came to 
Mattoon, 111.; in 1868, he was admitted 
to the bar ; has held the oflBce of City 
Police Magistrate, and was chosen Judge 
of the Common Pleas Court, filling out 
an unexpired term ; though comparatively 
a young man, he is recognized as a very 
skillful and successful practitioner. 

JAMES W. CRAIG, attorney at law, 
Mattoon ; was born in Morgan Tp., Coles 
Co., 111., June 2'J, 1844 ; his early life was 
that of a farmer's son ; his education was 
obtained in the common schools ; in 1864, 
he began the study of law with Col. 0. B. 
Fieklin, of Charleston ; in the fall of 1865, 
he matriculated in the law department of 
the Michigan University, from which he 
graduated in March, 1867 ; in April, fol- 
lowing, he was admitted to the State and 
Federal Courts ; he began the practice of 
his profession in Charlesston, forming a co- 
partnership with Col. Fieklin ; in 3Iay, 
1868, he located in Mattoon, retaining his 
partnership with Col. Fieklin two years; in 

1872, he was chosen State's Attorney for 
Coles Co., and retained the office until 
1876; the firm of Craig & Craig was 
formed in 1877. He was married in June, 
1868, to Mary Chilton, a native of Scott 
Co., 111. ; has two children — Edward C. and 
Lizzie I. Owns eighty acres near the city, 
real estate in Mattoon and near Charleston. 

ISAAC B. CRAIG, attorney at law, 
Mattoon ; was born in Coles Co., Ill, April 
28, 1854 ; he was brought up upon the 
farm, and his early experiences were those 
of a farmer's son ; with a good education 
acquired at the common schools, he began 
the study of his profession in March, 

1873, with his brother and O. B. Fieklin; 
in the fall of 1873, he entered the law de- 
partment of the Michigan University; he 
graduated in the spring ot 1875, and, in 
June, 1875, was admitted to practice at 
Mt. Vernon, HI.; he began the practice of 
his jirofession in Charleston ; in 1877, he 
came to Mattoon, and entered into partner- 
ship with his brother, and has since been 
engaged in the practice here. 



S. A. CAMPBELL, surgeon dentist; 
Mattoon; was born in Mercer Co., Penn., 
Aug. 16, 1848 ; his father came with his 
family in October, 1854, to Mercer Co., 111., 
and there settled on a farm ; six days after 
coming, he sickened and died ; at the age 
of 11 years. Dr. Campbell went into the 
office of Dr. E. B. Hamill, of Philadel- 
phia, and at 12, began the study of den- 
tistry ; here he remained under instruction 
about two and a half years ; he then en- 
tered the Baltimore Dental College, the 
oldest dental institution in the world ; in 
1868, having completed the course he re- 
ceived the degree of D. D. S. ; he next 
located in Philadelphia, and entered upon 
the practice of his profession ; in May, 
1870, be removed to Mattoon, 111. ; he is 
the oldest established dentist in the city, if 
not in the county. He was married in 
November, 1874, to Nellie Fallin, a native 
of Bracken Co., Ky.; has one daughter — 
Laura Bertha ; he has a large practice, and 
is recognized as a skilled workman in his 
profession. 

REV. FATHER CROWE, Pastor of 
the Catholic Church, Mattoon ; was born 
in Oswego, N. Y., Sept. 19, 1851; his 
early life w;»s passed in the public schools 
of his native city; here he completed a 
full course of instruction, passing regularly 
through the high school and normal de- 
partment ; at about the age of 18 years, 
he engaged in the profession of teaching, 
and was a member of the Faculty in the 
College at Tutopolis, and, at a later date, 
in that at Ruma, 111. ; having for some 
time directed his thoughts in the channel 
of the legal profession, and, at a later date, 
to that of the medical profession, finally, 
in 1873, he entered the Grand Seminary, 
at Montreal, Canada, where for four years 
he pursued a course in theology ; he was 
ordained to the ministry Dec. 22, 1877; 
he then took charge of a church at Flora, 
111., for a short time, and, in March, 1878, 
came to Mattoon, his jireseut residence; 
by virtue of his position, he is President 
of the schools connected with the Church, 
conducted by the Ursuline Sisters, from 
Springfield. 

E."T. CURRENS, farmer and fruit- 
grower ; P. 0. Mattoon ; was born in 
Bracken Co., Ky., in 1816; his father 
was a former and tanner, and for fifty-five 
years conducted the two interests jointly, 



MATTOON TOWNSHIP. 



543 



at Germantown, Ky. ; E. T.'s early life 
was spent upon his father's farm and in 
learning the tanning business ; he entered 
Augusta College, Ky., in 1832, and gradu- 
ated therefrom in 1836 ; he then engaged 
in mercantile life and farming till 1854, 
when he moved to Iowa and established 
the Kentucky settlement in Marshall Co.; 
in 1861, he returned to Maysville, Ky., 
and engaged in the hardware trade, in the 
firm of Currens & Owens; in 1864, he 
came to JMattoon, 111., where he has since 
resided. Mr. Currens has thrice plighted 
himself at the nuptial altar ; his first mar- 
riage occurred in 1839, his second in 1849, 
and his last in 1859, each time choosing 
for his helpmeet one of Kentucky's fair 
daughters. His life has been one of 
marked activity ; he has been an enter- 
prising and liberal business man, and has 
always taken an active and leading part in 
introducing and rearing tine stock, in 
agricultural and horticultural exhibitions ; 
he was the first merchant to build a to- 
bacco warehouse outside of the river towns, 
and to buy, price and ship the formers' 
crops of Mason and Bracken Cos. ; he 
founded the Union Agricultural Company 
of these counties, and gave his woodlands 
for their first exhibitions, in 1854-55 ; he 
was a member of the Board of Directors 
and Treasurer of the Company so long as 
he remained a citizen of the State ; he was 
also a member of the Mason and Bracken 
Importing Co., and few men exerted more 
influence in the introduction of fine stock, 
machinery, or in the general improvement 
of his part of the State ; he organized the 
^Mar.shall County, Iowa, Fair Co., and was 
President of that and the Central Iowa 
Fair Co., at the College Farm, up to the 
commencement of the war ; both societies 
he left in great prosperity, and they are to- 
day leading associations for that great 
State ; during his administration, interest- 
ing exhibitions were held at the college 
farms at Newton, Marshalltown and 
Des Moines City, at each of which he 
took many premiums with individual ani- 
mals and his fine herd of short-horns. Mr. 
Currens has taken an active interest in 
horticulture, fruit growing and gardening 
since he has been a citizen of Mattoon ; 
to his influence and activity Mattoon owes 
the existence of her Horticultural Society, 
and most of her advancement in the mat- 



ter of ornamental shade-trees, fine fruits, 
berries, etc.; as a clever and enterprising 
citizen, he stands second to no man in his 
community. 

J. D. CASSELL, proprietor Cassell's 
Restaurant, Jlattoon ; was born in Mont- 
gomery Co., Penn., A. D. 1827 ; until he 
was 17 or 18 years of age, he passed his 
life upon the farm, deriving his education 
mostly from the common schools ; in 1854, 
he came West to Jennings Co., Ind., where 
he remained one year ; he then went to 
Crawfordsville, Ind., and was a student in 
Wabash College a short time ; he next en- 
gaged in the merchant tailoring business 
there for two or three years ; leaving 
Crawfordsville, he next located in South 
Bend, remaining one year ; in the fall of 
1859, he moved to New Carlisle, Ind., and 
engaged in teaching school ; here he re- 
mained three anS one-half years, most of 
the time engaged as a Professor in the 
Collegiate Institute ; in the spring of 1863, 
he moved to Rolling Prairie, taught one 
year, and, in the fall of 1864, engaged in 
the grocery trade; in the spring of 1866, 
he was appointed and commissioned Post- 
master, which position he held eight years ; 
in the fall of 1874, he came to Mattoon 
and engaged in his present occupation. 
He was first married in 1858, to Elizabeth 
France, a native of Ohio ; she died in 

1868. His second marriage occurred in 

1869, to Nancy J. Bolster of New York 
State; she died in 1870; he has four 
children — Annie B., Lydia B., Mary C., 
Benjamin F. 

JAMES T. CUNNINGHAM, de- 
ceased, Mattoon; the subject of this 
sketch, whose portrait appears in this 
work, was born in Grayson Co., Ky., July 
11, 1802 ; his early life was spent on the 
farm, and his education limited to a few 
months' attendance upon the public or 
subscription schools of his native State ; 
from a very early period in life, the sup- 
port of the family mainly devolved upon 
him; in the fall of 1830. he came West to 
Illinois with his mother-in-law, Mrs. 
Yocum and her family, and settled in what 
is now Paradise Tp., Coles Co. He is 
mentioned in that township as being 
among the early settlers; when he came 
We.st he was possessed of but little means, 
but here he found a wide field for specula- 
tion ; he was uniformly successful in his 



544 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



various undertakings, and his gains, though 
great, were always honorably gotten ; lie 
scorned to do a mean act, and, though at 
his death, he left a large competency to 
his family, no one could justly say that one 
farthing had been gained by trickery or 
dishonest means. He took a deep and 
abiding interest in whatever tended to ad- 
vance the interests of his State. Being a 
man of good native ability, he was at an 
early day chosen by his fellow-citizens of 
Coles Co. as their representative; he served 
eight years in succession in the Lower 
House while the capital of the State was 
at Vandalia. His marriage to Elizabeth 
C. Yocum occurred Sept. 15, 1825; she 
died Sept. 3, 1849 ; for almost a quarter 
of a century, she was to him a faithful 
helpmeet ; he was married a second time. 
Feb. 3, 1853, to Mrs. Sarah E. Hendricks ; 
from first wedlock five children were born 
— John, William, James, Mary J., James 
H. ; of these William and James are 
dead ; from the second marriage two 
daughters were given him — Nancy T. 
(deceased) and Elizabeth C. (now wife of 
Elder W. T. Mason). At his death, 
which occurred June 26, 1863, he left an 
estate valued (after the li(juidation of all 
debts) at 8300,000. This legacy he left 
to his family as the reward of a faithful, 
industrious, honest, upright life — a life of 
strict sobriety, and full of earnest, manly 
effort. 

J. W. DOHA, M. r>., physician and 
surgeon, Mattoon ; was born near Augusta. 
Bracken Co., Ky., May 5, 1827 ; he 
enjoyed the advantages of select schools, 
and attended Augusta College a short time 
before its suspension ; in 1847, he went to 
Cincinnati, and became a student in Bart- 
Ictt's Commercial College, from which he 
graduated in the spring of 1848; he then 
devoted himself to book-keeping for the 
firm of J. 0. Prather & Co., about a year; 
in the winter of 1849, he began the study 
of medicine, under Dr. George K. Todd, of 
Cynthiana, Ky., a brother of Mrs. A. 
Lincoln ; during the winter of 1850 and 
1851, he attended the Ohio Medical Col- 
lege, at Cincinnati, and the following 
spring, engaged in the jiractice of his pro- 
fession, at Buena Vista, Ky. ; the winter 
of 1851 and 1852, he was again a student 
in the College, and graduated in the spring 
following, when he again returned to his 



practice; in August, 1855, he came West 
to Illinois, and located in Mattoon ; during 
the winter of 1855 and 1856, he attended 
a course of lectures in the Eclectic Medical 
College, at Cincinnati ; returning home he 
remained here in the practice until October, 
1863, when he moved to Chicago; during 
his residence of two years in Chicago, he 
received a degree from the Rush Medical 
College; in April, 1865, he returned to 
Mattoon, and has since resided here. He 
was married in the spring of 1850, to 
Martha E. Smith, a native of Harrison Co., 
Ky.; she died March 27, 1872; Nov. 10, 
1875, he was married to S. A. McQuown, a 
native of Kentucky ; has four children from 
first wedlock — Leoma C. (wife of F. D. 
Dole), Helen M., John W., Maggie E. 
He was first Mayor of the city, and for a 
number of years member of the City 
Council ; also held the office of City 
Treasurer a number of terms. 

WILLIAM DOZIER, architect and 
builder, Mattoon ; was born in Muskingum 
Co., Ohio, Sept. 12, 1836; his grand- 
father came from Pennsylvania to Ohio a.< 
early as 1810, and settled in Muskingum 
Co., when that section of country was a 
wilderness ; his father was then a lad of some 
8 or 9 summers ; through want of oppor- 
tunity, the education of his father was not 
extended beyond spelling, he never having 
read a day in school ; he was a man, how- 
ever, of good native ability, and, through 
his own exertions, obtained a fair educa- 
tion ; he served nine years as Justice of thi- 
Peace; he lost bis life April 5, 1852, by 
drowning, Williams early life was passed 
upon the farm, and he secured a good 
education in the common schools : after 
the death of his father, he took charge of 
bis mother's interest, and that of eight 
younger members of the family, remaining 
at home till his majority ; at the age of 18 
years, he began teaching, and taught four 
winters, farming or following the trade of 
carpenter during the remainder of the 
year; in 1858, he came West to Illinois, 
to prospect the country, and on the 1st day 
of April, landed in what is now the city of 
Mattoon, then a village of some 300 inhab- 
itants ; here he engaged in working at his 
trade ; subsequently went te Cumberland 
Co., but soon returned to Mattoon ; in the 
fall of 1859, he returned to Ohio, and 
Oct. 11, 1859, was married to Maria 



MATTOON TOWNSHIP. 



545 



McCaslin, of Morgan Co., Ohio; here he 
remained till August, 1861, when he again 
set his face westward, moving, in a two- 
horse wagon, his goods and effects ; he 
came again to Mattoon; in 1865, he moved 
to Terre Haute, Ind., and during his resi- 
dence of three and a half years, built six 
residences for himself, and also engaged in 
merchandising, a short time; in 18tJ9, he 
returned to Mattoon ; sinee his residence 
he has built ten residences, six of which 
he now owns; he also owns twenty acres in 
Okaw Tp., and four acres at his residence 
near the city limits. Has had two chil- 
dren — Wallace, living ; Cadmer, dead. In 
1875, in company with his wife he visited 
England, Scotland and France, and con- 
tributed some interesting articles to the 
city papers on the manners and customs of 
the people, and on sight-seeing in London, 
P]dinburgh and other noted places. 

W. B. DUNLAP, Cashier First Na- 
tional Bank, Mattoon ; was born in New 
Hampshire in 1840 ; he received a good, 
common-school education, and was fitted 
for college, but did not enter upon a college 
course. In 1861, he came West to Illi- 
nois, locating in Mattoon, where he was 
employed as book-keeper and clerk for the 
firm of Francis & Shaw. Jan. 1, 1863, 
he entered the banking house of Pilkington 
& Co., as Cashier; May 1, 1865, at 
which time the First National Bank was 
organized, he was chosen to the position of 
Teller ; this he held until 1868, when he 
was chosen Cashier; June 1, 1874, he 
resigned his office and organized the Mat- 
toon National Bank, of which he was Presi- 
dent till November, 1877, at which time 
he resigned the position to devote his atten- 
tion to his real estate transactions. April 
1, 1878, he was tendered the position of 
Cashier of the First National Bank a second 
time, and in May following that of Presi- 
dent ; this, after mature deliberation, he 
declined, but consented to fill the office of 
Cashier. The management of the bank, 
however, is almost wholly intrusted to his 
care. He was married in 1866, to Mary 
K. Woods, a native of Illinois. Has two 
children — Estelle and Katie. Owns 120 
acres and a large amount of real estate in 
the city. In addition to his banking 
duties, he transacts a real estate business 
to the amount of from $60,000 to $70,000 
per annum. 



J. K. DONNELL, wholesale grocer, 
Mattoon ; was born in Tyrone Co., Ireland, 
Oct. 14, 1835. At the age of 13, he 
entered the employ of John and James 
Graham, as clerk in their grocery establish- 
ment, in the town of Strabane ; here he 
served an indentured apprenticeship for 
three years and four months, at which time 
he received a certificate of qualification as 
a practical bu.siness man. The family soon 
after came to America and settled in 
Philadelphia, where he was employed in 
various firms in the capacity of clerk. In 
1857, he began business for himself in the 
retail grocery trade ; this he conducted ten 
years. In 1867, he came to Illinois and 
began the retail trade in Mattoon ; for the 
first four years he conducted a jobbing 
trade in connection with the retail depart- 
ment; in the fall of 1861, he leased his 
present place of business to operate exclu- 
sively a jobbing trade ; this he continued 
five years; in the fall of 1866, he leased an 
additional room, and again connected the 
retail trade with his business ; October, 
1878, he abandoned the retail department 
and entered upon the wholesale business 
exclusively. His is the pioneer wholesale 
establishment, being the first and only 
exclusively wholesale house in the city. Id 
addition to his fine and growing business, 
ranging from $130,000 to $150,000 per 
annum, he own; a fine fruit farm of twenty 
acres within the corporate limits of the 
city, a number of residences and eighty- 
four acres in Cumberland Co., well im- 
proved. All this he has accumulated by 
honest industry and good management, 
and while ill-timed adventure and unwise 
speculation has engulfed many in finan- 
cial ruin, he feels grateful that his every 
obligation has been met, dollar for dollar ; 
and yet with his armor on, he boasts not 
as he may who has laid it aside. 

J. F. DRISH, dealer in general hard- 
ware and agricultural implements, Mat- 
toon ; was bornin Leesburg, Loudoun Co., 
Va., May 8, 1833 ; his father came west 
to lOinois in 1836 or 1837, and first set- 
tled in Whitehall, Greene Co., where he 
engaged in the practice of his profession — 
that of a physician and surgeon ; at the 
age of 19, the subject of this sketch left 
home and crossed the plains to California ; 
here he engaged in speculating and con- 
tracting; in 1854, he returned by way of 



546 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



the Isthmus of Panama and New York 
City ; he next settled in Carlinville, and 
engaged in the dry goods and grocery trade 
till 1861. At the outbreaking of the 
civil war, he entered in the U. S. service 
in the 32d I. V. I., as Adjutant of 
the regiment ; in April, 1862, lie came 
home and assisted in raising and organiz- 
ing the 122d I. V. I., and again entered the 
service as Lieutenant Colonel of the regi- 
ment ; he was mustered out of the service 
in 1865, having been actively engaged 
with the regiment during its entire term 
of service. In 1S65, he settled in Mat- 
toon and engaged in his present occupa- 
tion. He was married, in 1856, to 
Rosella C. Keller, a native of Illinois ; 
they have two daughters — L. M. and 
Frankie. He has held the office of Super- 
visor two terms, and was Chairman of the 
Board during his last term ; he was chosen 
Mayor of the city in 1867, serving out a 
portion of the first Mayoralty under the 
new city charter ; he has held the office 
of President one term, and that of Secre- 
tary one term, of the Board of Education. 
He participated in the battles of Forts 
Henry, Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, 
Parker's Cross Roads, Nashville, and many 
others ; he was wounded in the shoulder 
on the 9th day of April, 1865, in the 
assault on Fort Blakely, at Mobile ; this 
battle was fought after the war was virt- 
ually at an end. 

R. L. EWIXG, retail grocer, Mattoon; 
was born in Coles Co., 111., Dec. 28, 1842; 
his father, William Ewing, familiarly 
known as 'Squire Ewing, came from Ken- 
tucky and settled upon the South Kicka- 
poo, within the present limits of Coles Co., 
in the spring of 1 82!) ; here ho engaged in 
farming, and here the boyhood and early 
manhood of K. L. was pas.sed upon the 
farm; his father died in 1866; he re- 
mained at home and had charge of the 
farm until 1873 ; he then purchased the 
homestead, and, the following year, sold out 
and came to Mattoon ; here he entered the 
employ of D. D. James, as clerk in his 
grain office, and, the following year, was in 
like employnient for Hinkle & Kahn ; 
Nov. 1, 1876, he began his present busi- 
ness, with Thos. McCormick as partner, 
under the firm name of McCormick & 
Ewing. He was married Dec. 31, 1863, 
to Sarah S. McDonald, a native of Illinois ; 



they have one child living — John W., .and 
an infant son dead. He owns eighty 
acres of the old homestead ; is at present 
a member of the City Council. 

MATTHIAS EVERHARTY, propri- 
etor West Broadway Meat Market, Slat- 
toon ; was born near Coblenz, Prussia, 
June 28, 1833 ; when he was but 4 years 
old, his parents emigTated to America, 
landing in Cincinnati July 4, 1837; here 
they settled, and his father was one of the 
earliest German gardeners that began the 
raising of vegetables for the Cincinnati 
market ; much of the land that he then cul- 
tivated in " garden sass " is now occupied 
with solid rows of substantial brick build- 
ings. In 1849, young Everharty went to 
his trade — thatot a butcher — -at which he 
served as an apprentice three years ; he 
followed the business in Cincinnati till 
1861, .at which date he went out as 
butcher to the first German regiment, the 
9th Ohio V. I., and was with various 
divisions of the army till 1863 ; on his 
return from the army, he remained a 
short time in Cincinnati, and, in Novem- 
ber, 1863, he came to Mattoon and en- 
gaged in operating his present business. 
He was married, in 1854, to Elizabeth 
Horn, a native of France; they have four 
children — Catharine, John J., Annie L. 
and Maggie. He owns real estate in the 
city — a residence, five acres of land and 
business property. 

R. M. GRAY, attorney at law, Mat- 
toon; was born in Plea.sant Grove Tp., 
Coles Co., 111., Dec. 27, 1848 ; his father. 
James C, was one of the early pioneers of 
this section ; his early life was that of a 
farmer's son ; in addition to his common 
school education, at the age of 19, he en- 
tered Westfield College, Clark Co., 111., 
and remained one year ; he next attended 
an academy in his native township, two 
years, under the supervision of Pi'of. T. J. 
Lee; in the fall of 1870, he entered the 
law department of Michigan University, 
from which he graduated in March, 1S73 ; 
he then entered the office of Maj. James 
A. Connolly, iu Ch.arleston, III., and re- 
mained till the spring of 1875 ; he then 
came to Mattoon and entered upon the 
practice of his profession, in connection 
with H. W. Magee ; soon afrn- locating, he 
was appointed City Attorney, and held the 
office one year; in 1877, he formed a co- 



MATTOON TOWNSHIP. 



547 



partnership with Charles Bennett, which 
lasted one year; in 1876, he was elected 
State's Attorney for Coles Co., which po- 
• sition he now holds ; since the spring of 
1878, he has been practicing' his profession 
alone, and though comparatively young in 
the work, has already shown himself "a 
workman that needeth not to be ashamed. " 

0. W. GOGIN, Justice of the Peace, 
Mattoon ; was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 
1820 ; his father came from New Jersey 
and settled in Cincinnati in 1800 ; the 
family was six months making the jour- 
ney, coming by teams to Pittsburgh, Penn., 
and thence floating down the Ohio in a 
keelboat to the point of destination ; here 
the family remained some twenty-odd 
years; in the spring of 1841, his father 
came West, and settled in Crawford Co., 
III., where he began the labor of opening up 
a farm in the woods ; 0. W. was the 
youngest of the family, and remained at 
home till the death of his parents ; they 
lived to enjoy the companionship of each 
other through a half-century of wedded 
life, and were consistent members of the 
M. E. Church for the same length of time. 
'Squire Gogin moved to Mattoon in the 
fall of 186:i ; here he engaged for some 
years in milling and in the fruit-growing 
business. He was married in 1842, to 
Eliza Eurle, a native of Virginia ; have 
four children — A. Dorr, Emma, Eola and 
Nellie. Has held the office of Justice of the 
Peace, and transacts much business in the 
settlement of estates. 

PRANK GARTHWAIT, auction and 
commission merchant, Mattoon ; was born 
in Terre Haute, lad., Oct. 18, 1838 ; his 
father was a wholesale and retail grocery- 
man, and was one of the pioneers of the 
city ; Frank obtained his education at the 
city schools, and at the age of 1 5, began 
the life of a printer's devil in the Courier 
office ; here he remained three years under 
charge of J. Canard, editor and proprietor 
of the paper ; he next engaged in travel- 
ing and selling clocks for three years, and 
subsequently engaged in the sale of notions 
till 1861 ; he enlisted in the United States 
service in the fiiU of 1861, in Co. G, 43d 
Ind. V. I. ; in this he served tht;ee 
years ; he then raised a company, and 
served till the close of the war in the 
149th Regt. ; in this he went out as First 
Lieutenant, and was promoted to the Cap- 



' taincy ; on his return, he engaged in the 
grocery trade in Terre Haute ; in the 
spring of 1871, he located in Springfield, 
: and engaged in selling lightning-rods ; in 
October, 1871, he came to Mattoon, and 
engaged in the sale of pumps and light- 
ning-rods ; in the spring of 1872, he op- 
erated a marble-shop ; in January, 1874, 
he began his present line of business. He 
' was married in 1865, to Ella Saunders, 
I a native of Indiana ; she died in 1872 ; his 
, second marriage, to Mrs. Laura Morgan, a 
native of Illinois, occurred in 1874 ; two 
children were born from first wedlock — 
Nettie, living, and Nellie, dead ; one from 
second marriage — -Daisy. He was chosen 
Mayor of the city in the spring of 1877 ; 
owns real estate in the city. 

J. M. GIBBS, livery and sale stable, 
Mattoon ; was born near the South Kick- 
apoo, in Coles Co., 111., Jan. 28, 1841 ; 
his grandfather, Elijah Gibbs, was one ot 
the early pioneers of this seetinn, having 
come from Virginia, in an early day, to 
Ohio, and thence to Illinois ; his father, 
Homer Gibbs, was here almost as early as 
the formation of the county ; his father 
I was a carpenter by trade ; J. M. passed 
i his early life on the farm, near Sullivan, 
1 Moultrie Co.; his education was obtained 
. in the common schools ; at the age of 20 
; years, he began life for himself; in 1861, 
j he began trading in horses and mules, and 
for three or four years, during the war, 
shipped to St. Louis stock purchased for 
' the cavalry and artillery services ; after the 
close of the war, he engaged in shipping 
stock to the southern markets of New 
Orleans and Natchez ; this he continues 
to the present time; during the summer, 
he ships to Boston, Mass., though he has 
always bought and shipped in connection 
with I. N. Gibbs, his twin brother, yet 
they have never been in partnership. He 
was married Jan. 7, 1864, to Sallie Brid- 
well, a native of Louisville, Ky.; has five 
children — J. Emery, Carrie, Lewis, Mar- 
tin W. and Isaac N. 

ABRAM HASBROUCK, City Mayor, 
and dealer in hardware and agricultual im- 
plements, Mattoon ; was born in Ulster 
Co., N. Y., in 1825 ; his early life was 
passed upon the farm, and his education, 
such as was derived from the common 
schools ; he remained on the homestead un- 
about 25 years of age; in 1854, he came 

3 



548 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



West and first settled in Michigan ; here 
he engaged in operating a hotel ; in 1857, 
he moved to Milwaukee, and conducted 
the " Walker House " two years ; the win- 
ter of 1859 he spent in Chicago, not act- 
ively engaged in business; in 1860, he lo- 
cated in Mattoon, and opened his present 
business ; his is the pioneer hardware es- 
tablishment of the cfty ; he wsis chosen 
Mayor of the city in the spring of 1878, 
and is deservedly popular as a city oiEcial 
and business man. He was married in 
1855 to Louisa G. Smith, a native of 
Vermont ; has one daughter — Helen S. 
Owns 140 acres in Coles Co., some fine 
business property in the city, and an eligi- 
ble city residence. 

J. F. HUGHES, attorney at law, Mat- 
toon : was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, Jan. 
17, 1839; his early life was that of a form- 
er's son ; in addition to his common- 
school education, he enjoyed the advan- 
tages of the Academy at Fredricksburg 
and Smithvillo, in his native county. 
April 19, 1801, he entered the U. S. serv- 
ice as a member of the 16th Ohio V. I., 
and served three months in West Virginia ; 
in July, 1862, he re-enlisted in the 102d 
Regiment for three years ; was 1st Ser- 
geant of Co. F. In October, 1865, he en- 
tered the Law Department of Michigan 
University, from which he graduated in 
the spring of 1867 ; he next associated 
himself with A. P. Green, and was en- 
gaged with him fifteen months in editing 
and •publishing the Okaw Republican, at 
Sullivan ; in 1869, he was admitted to the 
bar, and began the practice of his profes- 
sion in Mattoon, in partnership with W. J. 
Henry, of Shelby ville; in 1872, the firm 
of Henry & Hughes was dissolved, and in 
1873, that of Steele & Hughes formed; 
this was dissolved by the death of Mr. 
Steele, in July, 1877. He was married 
Sept. 17, 1874, to Julia Chrisman, a na- 
tive of Jasper Co., III.; has two children 
— Columbia and Arlington. Owns $5,000 
worth of real estate. 

J. W. HANNA, book and music store, 
Mattoon ; was born in Frccport, Harrison 
Co., Ohio, Dec. 2, 1848; he derived his 
education from the common schools, and, 
at ihe age of 13 years, began clerking in 
hi.s father's general merchandising estab- 
lishment at Deersville, Ohio; July 4, 1866, 
he came West, stopping a short time at 



Preston, Minn., and, in September follow- 
ing, came to Mattoon, where he attended 
school rix mouths ; he then entered the 
employ of Finley & Richardson as clerk 
in their book store; in October, 1869, he 
and his brother James R., bought out the 
firm, and in May, 1871, sold out to a Mr. 
Decker; J.'W. then formed a partnership 
with Geo. P. McDougal and opened a new 
store; in 1872, McDougal retired, and the 
firm became that of Thieleus & Hanna ; 
in October, 1877, he sold out to Thieleus, 
and, Nov. 20 following, purchased his 
present business. He was married, July 
25, to Mary E. Henderson, a native of 
Marion Co., Ohio; four children have 
blessed their union — Gertrude, Ethel, 
William, living, Charles, deceased. 

JOHN HUNT, meat-market, Mattoon; 
was born in Fayette Co., Ohio, Nov. 6, 
1837 ; his father came West to Illinois and 
settled in Jasper Co. in 1845 ; his early 
life was that of a farmer's boy, and his ad- 
vantages for securing an education some- 
what limited; most of his education he 
obtained in the schools of Xenia, Ohio, 
and as a student of Antioch College, after 
he had attained to manhood ; he left home 
at the age of 18 years, and engaged in 
teaching school some four years ; in 1860, 
he purchased a farm in Coles Co., and fol- 
lowed agricultural pursuits for ten years ; 
in 1870, he formed a partnership with J. 
L. Scott, under the firm name of Hunt & 
Scott, and engaged in the grocery trade in 
Mattoon; in the spring of 1875, he re- 
tired from the firm, and for two years was 
engaged in buying and shijiping horses and 
mules to the Southern market; in 1876, he 
engaged in his present business. He was 
married in 1858 to Eliza J. Gowin, a 
native of North Carolina ; has two chil- 
dren — Alva and Orris. Has held the oflSce 
of Assessor for the past four years, and is 
also a member of the Board of Education 
on the East Side. 

IRA JAMES, wholesale dealer in coal 
oil, Mattoon; was born in Dearborn (now 
Ohio) Co., Ind., May 24, 1826 ; his father 
was a cotton and woolen manufacturer ; at 
the age of 17, he left home and engaged in 
boating on the Ohio and Mississippi 
Rivers for a period of about ten years ; he 
commanded during the time seven steam- 
boats ; his first boating was in the packet 
trade from Rising Sun to Cincinna'; 






MATTOON TOWNSHIP. 



549 



I 



erward he entered the trade from New 
Orleans and Cincinnati; in 1853, he went 
to California and spent three years ; en- 
gaged a portion of the time in milling and 
the remainder in mining; iu 1856, he re- 
turned to Rising SuUj Ind. ; he next made 
a tour through the Southern States of 
Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, set- 
ting up machinery — cotton-screws, cotton- 
gins and steam machinery ; in November, 
1857, he located in Mattoon Tp., and en- 
gaged in farming three years ; in 1860, he 
moved to Mattoon, and, in 1861, was 
chosen Police Magistrate and served one 
year ; he next engaged in buying and 
shipping hay, and, in 1865, began dealing 
in grain; in 1873, he retired from the 
grain trade and went to Southern Colorado, 
where he discovered the mines and laid 
out the town of Rosita ; here he spent 
most of two years ; in 1875, he returned 
to Mattoon, and, in connection with J. D. 
Herkimer, purchased the gas works, which 
he has since operated. He was married 
in 1859 to Cynthia A. Hendricks, a native 
of Illinois; she died Feb. 15, 1872; his 
second marriage to Jennie H. Crow, a 
native of Ohio, wus celebrated Aug. 18, 
1875; from first wedlock he has three 
sons — John Q., Frank P., Justin C. ; 
from second, two children — Harline and 
an infant daughter. Owns two-thirds of 
the gas works and 240 acres in Coies Co.; 
he does a large business in the wholesale 
oil trade and is President of the Mattoon 
Gas- Light & Coke Co. 

IRA B. JACKSON, insurance agent, 
Mattoon ; was born in Madison, Jefferson 
Co., Ind., Oct. 31, 1851 ; in 1855, his 
father removed with his family to Illinois, 
and settled in Sangamon Co., near Spring- 
field ; his early life was that of a farmer's 
boy ; he acquired a good common-school 
education ; at the age of 18, he engaged in 
the business of photograph artist, which 
he followed two years ; in 1872, he com- 
pleted a business course in the Commercial 
College, at Terre Haute. Ind. ; in 1874, 
he engaged in the grocery trade with Fallin 
Bros., under the firm name of Fallin Bros. 
& Jackson ; in 1876, he retired from the 
firm and engaged in the fire insurance 
busine.ss; he at present represents one ac- 
cident and sixteen leading fire insurance 
companies in Coles and EflSngham Cos., 
aggregating in assets over $30,000,000 ; 



he also represents the Great Western Dis- 
patch Co. He was married May 26, 1874, 
to Laura I. Carter, a native of Indiana; 
has one child — Georgia. He is at pres- 
ent serving his second term of ofiice as 
City and also Township Clerk. 

THEO. JONTE, dealer in harness and 
saddles, Mattoon ; was born in Nashville, 
Tenn., April 4, 1839; his father was a 
wholesale confectioner ; he received a good 
common-school education, and, at the age 
of 16 years, left home and came West, set- 
tling in Quincy, 111., where he engaged in 
working at his trade ; in the fall of 1861, he 
engaged in laboring for the U. S. Govern- 
ment in the making of cavalry equipments ; 
the fall of 1862, he came to Paris, Edgar 
Co., and engaged in business with Wm. 
Legy ; they operated a shop in Paris, and 
one in Grand View at the same time ; Mr. 
Jonte had charge of the latter ; in the fall 
of 1864, he removed to Mattoon, and 
opened up his present business ; his is the 
only first-class establishment in the city. 
He was married in 1865 to Anna Stone- 
burner, a native of Grand View, 111. ; has 
one child — Alberta. Owns considerable 
real estate in the city. In 1876, he was 
chosen City Mayor ; is at present Assistant 
Supervisor of Mattoon Tp. ; also a member 
of the Board of P]ducation, West Side. 

P. A. KEMPER, M. D., physician and 
surgeon, Mattoon ; was born in Culpeper 
Co., Va., Aug. 3], 1832; his early educa- 
tion was under the direct supervision of his 
mother, who was a well-qualified school- 
mistress; his father was an artisan by pro- 
fession, of whom he was bereft at the early 
age of 8 years; when about 16 years of 
age, he left home and came to Paris, Edgar 
Co., 111.; in the fall of 1855, he began the 
study of his profession with Dr. D. O. 
McCord, remaining in his office two and a 
half years; during the winter of 1857 and 
1858, he attended Rush Medical College, 
and, at a later date, received his degree; 
He began the practice of his profession in 
Pleasant Grove Tp., Coles Co., March 3, 
1858; here be remained until 1876, ex- 
cepting an absence of two years in the 
army. In 1861, be raised a company for 
the 5th Regiment, and was chosen Captain 
of the same ; his position he resigned for 
that of Assistant Surgeon of the regiment ; 
when the final organization occurred, how- 
ever, through the treachery of professed 



550 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



friends, lie failed in receiving the appoint- 
ment ; notwithstanding the unjust treat- 
ment to himself and Col. UpdegrafF, the 
commanding officer, he elected to remain 
with his boys, as a private in the ranks, 
rather than return home; in June, 18l)2, 
he was captured at Pocahontas, Ark., and 
remained a prisoner of war some three 
months; he was next si'nt on parole to St. 
Louis, and then exchanged and appointed 
to duty in the hospital with the rank and 
pay of Assistant Surgeon ; in October, 
1863, he was appointed and commissioned 
Surgeon of the 3d Kegiment, which po- 
sition he resigned after sis months ; in 
March, 1876, he located in Mattoon, his 
present residence. He was married in 
December, 1 863, to Mary J. Glenn, a na- 
tive of Illinois : has had five children — 
Joseph E., John M., George H., living ; 
Benjamin G, Charles W., dead. At 
present holds the office of City Physician. 

G. T. KILNER, druggist, Mattoon; 
was born in Manchester, Eng., Nov. 18, 
1820 ; at the age of 15 years, he Wiis left 
an orphan, and, in 1836, emigrated to 
America, and first settled in Waterbury, 
Conn.; here he engaged in the sale of drugs 
six years ; he then moved to Newburgh, 
N. Y., where he engaged in the same 
business; in the spring of 1860, he came 
West and located in Mattoon, opened up 
his business here ; his is the first drug 
store established in the city ; he took a 
partial course in medicine and practici^d 
some years in connection with the drug 
business. lie was married in January, 
1845, to Sarah Kihier, a native of En- 
gland. Has four children — Albert, Wal- 
ter, Eddie and Annie. Owns eighty acres 
adjoining the city corporation ; has been a 
member of the City Council three terms. 

KAHN BROS., dealers in clothing, 
Mattoon. Mark Kahn, senior member 
of the firm of Kahn Bros., was born in 
Wurtemberg, Germany, Nov. 7, 1841 ; 
he emigrated to America in 1856, and 
first settled in Marshall Co., 111., and en- 
gaged in peddling dry goods and clothing 
for eighteen months ; during the summers 
of 1858, 18511 and 1860, he worked on a 
farm iu Shelby Co., and during the winter ' 
season was employed in a store ; in 
the fall of 1860, in connection with a 
Mr. Reiner and his brother Moses, he 
began the business of merchandising in , 



Mattoon, under the firm name of Steiner & 
Kahn ; in 1863, Mr. Steiner retired from 
the firm, and his brother Lewis became a 
member; the firm name was then changed 
to Kahn Bros. ; Lewis died in the fall of 
1867 ; in 1871, his brother Felix became a 
partner ; his brother Moses was lost in the 
ill-fated Schiller, May 7, 1875, on her 
passage from America to Germany. 
From 1863 to 1869, the firm also operated 
a clothing house in Charleston, Coles Co., 
and from 1S69 to 1874, conducted the 
lumber trade in Mattoon in connection 
with the merchandising business. He was 
married in March, 1875, to Minnie Steiner, 
a native of Illinois ; she died in February, 
1876. Has one son — -Lewis. In June, 
1878, he was chosen President of the First 
National Bank of Mattoon, which pnsition 
he now holds. Owns 1,14U acres of land, 
valued at §40,000. 

P. B.LINN, dealer in groceries, provis- 
ions and queensware, Mattoon. The subject 
of this sketch was born in Coles Co., Ilf. 
Nov. 18, 1850 ; his father was one of 
the early pioneers of the county ; his early 
life was spent upon the farm ; in addition 
to his common-school education, he attend- 
ed Lee's Academy two years ; in 1871. he 
completed a business course in Bryant & 
Stratton's Commercial College at Cincin- 
nati ; the same year, he entered the em- 
ploy of J. B. Hill & Co., at Charleston, as 
clerk ; in 1873, he began clerking for 
Frank Kern, in Effingham, and, iu 1874, 
he came to Mattoon, where he served 
Hinkle & Buck in their dry goods estab- 
lishment eighteen months ; he next labored 
in the same capacity for Robert Mosley & 
Son for the same length of time. Nov. 
28, 1877, he began business for himself 
He was married May 8, 1878, to Lizzie 
11. Coddingtou, a native of Indiana. He 
lost his father at the age of 12 years, and 
since that time has paddled his own canoe 
along life's voyage. 

ELISHA LINDER, farmer; P. 0. 
Mattoon ; was born in Hardin Co., Ky.. 
Aue;. 16, 1807 ; his early life was passed 
upon the farm, and his education was such 
as the schools of those days afforded ; when 
less than seven years of age, he lost his 
father, and being the oldest of the family, 
he soon became the head ; his father was 
a man of energy and thrift, and left the 
family well provided for; in 1829, young 



t 



MATTOON TOWNSHIP. 



551 



Linder came West, to Illinois, and pros- 
pected the county ; remainino; two months, 
he returned to Kentucky, and in January, 
1831, came again to Illinois; in October 
following, he moved his mother and fam- 
ily — a brother and two sisters — and located 
near where he now resides ; on arriving at 
what was to be their future home, they 
possessed, in actual cash, $2.50, just 
enough to purchase half a barrel of salt ; 
he bought a few head of horses, cattle and 
a flock of sheep ; he was first to introduce 
ghecp into this section of country ; his first 
purchase was forty acres, slightly im- 
proved ; he has owned at one time 2,000 
acres of land, and at present owns about 
1.200 acres ; in almost every undertaking, 
he has been very successful. He was 
married in April. 18.39, to Rebecca Saw- 
yer, a native of Kentucky ; her father, 
John Sawyer, was one of the early pioneers 
of this section ; from this union, fourteen 
children have been born — three sons and 
eleven daughters ; of these, three sons and 
eight daughters are still living. Mr. Lin- 
der has held the olEce of Township Super- 
visor three or four terms. 

TIFFIN P. LOGAN, land and loan 
agent, Mattoon ; was born in Trimble Co., 
Ky.. March 28, 1844 ; his father was a 
man of prominence, a cousin to President 
Harrison, and was honored by the Demo- 
cratic party with a seat in the Kentucky 
Legislature during the sessions of 1844- 
4.") : in the spring of 1858, removed with 
his fomily to IlHnois, and located in Wind- 
sor, Shelby Co.; here he occupied the of- 
fice of Justice of the Peace eleven years 
in succession ; here Tiffin P. began life for 
himself; he lived with his brother-in-law 
till he attained the age of 15 years ; at this 
age he could neither read nor write ; leav- 
ing his taskmaster, he determined to lend 
his energies to the acquiring of an edu- 
cation ; by the performance of various com- 
missions he paid his board, tuition, and 
other necessary expenses, and at the ex- 
piration of three years, had acipiired a good 
elementary education, and had S8 ahead ; 
March 8, 1864, he located where Ottawa, 
Kan., now is, then occupied by eleven 
tribes of Indians ; with these, he lived 
some six weeks, sole representative of the 
Caucasian race ; here, with a capital of 
$41, he began the manufacture of shingles, 
and in nine months accumulated $1,200 ; 



owing to ill health, he closed out his busi- 
ness, and engaged in clerking for Holt & 
Evans, the first white men operating a 
store in Ottawa; in March, 1865, he loca- 
ted in Kansas City, and operated a grocery 
store two years ; during the winter of 
1866-67, he took a business course in 
Spaulding's Commercial College, in Kansas 
City ; he next went to Lyon Co., Kan., 
and engaged in the dairy business one 
year; in the spring of 1868, he went to 
Sedalia, Mo., and there engaged in the 
milk and dairy business six years ; at this 
he cleared about 82,000 per annum, but 
lost most of it in 1874, operating in 
cattle ; in 1875, he returned to Illinois, and 
engaged in handling and shipping stock ; in 
December, 1875, he engaged in the lumber 
and grain trade at Bethany, 111. ; this he 
followed till March, 1878, when he opened 
a land office in Mattoon, to which he has 
recently added the loan agency. He was 
married Oct. 17, 1876, to Sue M. Smutz, a 
native of Lima, Ohio ; has one child — 
Edna P. Owns real estate in Bethany, 111. ; 
in honor of his early citizenship, Logan 
street, of Ottawa, Kan., was named for 
him. 

COL. ROBERT H. McFADDEN, 
Pension Attorney and Police Magistrate, 
Mattoon ; was born in Zanesville, Ohio, in 
1833 ; his father was a cabinet-maker by 
trade, and at the age of 13 years, he be- 
gan the trade, working five years under 
instructions ; at 18, he began life for him- 
self, following his trade about fifteen years ; 
in 1850, he came to Shelby Co., 111., and 
remained three years ; in 1853, he came to 
Coles Co., and located in the village of 
Paradise ; in the summer of 1855, he 
came to Mattoon ; he built the first dwell- 
ing in the city limits, on what is now 
known as Charleston avenue, between East 
First and Union streets. He was married 
Sept. 28, 1855, to Sarah A. Norvell, by 
Elder Isaac Hart ; theirs was the first wed- 
ding that occurred in Mattoon ; at the first 
election held in Mattoon Tp., in 1857, he 
was chosen a Justice of the Peace; April 
19, 1861 , he entered the United States serv- 
ice as Second Lieutenant, in the 7th Regt. 
I. V. I.; he served as First Lieutenant, 
Captain and Major in the 41st Regt., and 
Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel in the 53d ; 
July 22, 1865, he was mustered out of the 
service, and, on his return, followed his 



552 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



trade some three years ; in 1871, he was 
elected Mayor of the city, having served 
one term as Alderman; in 1873, he was 
chosen Police Magistrate, and from re- 
election, has held the office since. Has 
four children — May I., John A., Eddie 
D. and Lizzie A. 

H. W. MAGEE, attorney at law, Mat- 
toon ; was born in Coles Co., 111., in Oc- 
tober, 1847 ; his father came from Cyn- 
thiana, Ky., and settled in Coles Co., 111., 
in 1832 ; here he engaged in farming; he 
relates that his father labored a whole year 
for Joseph VanDeren for $96 ; when H. 
W., was 2 years of age, his father moved to 
the western portion of Missouri, and was 
there during the border troubles; in the 
fall of 1857, he returned with his family to 
Coles Co., and .settled in what is known as 
the "Dead Man's Grove;" in 1872, he 
moved to Louisa Co., Iowa, where he at 
present resides ; having obtained a good 
common-school education, at the age of 20 
years, H. W. entered the office of the Cir- 
cuit Clerk, at Charleston, as Deputy ; here 
he remained about two and a half years ; 
in the winter of 1869, he entered the law 
department of Michigan University, from 
which he graduated in the spring of 1872; 
at that date, he was admitted to practice in 
the courts of Michigan, and, the summer 
of 1872, was admitted to the courts of 
Illinois ; he began the practice of his pro- 
fession in Mattoon, his present residence. 
He was married in the spring of 1873 to 
Ellen J. Barnes, a native of Indiana])olis ; 
has one child — Graoie. 

L. F. MORSE, M. D., phy.sician and 
Burgeon, Mattoon ; was born in Canterbury, 
N. H., Feb. 5, 1839; his father was a 
farmer, and his early life was that of a 
farmer's .son; at the age of 14, he went to 
live with an uncle ; in the winter of 1860, 
he began the study of medicine, under 
the supervision of Dr. L. T. Weeks, of 
Canterljury ; after an extended course of 
reading, he attended a course of lectures 
in the Burlington Medical College, at Bur- 
lington, Vt.; in June, 18(i2, he was en- 
gaged in the Government hospital at 
Washinfiton, as Contract Surgeon ; here 
he remained one year ; in 1863, he at- 
tended a course of lectures in Dartmouth 
Medical College, from which he graduated 
in November, 1863 ; he then entered the 
U. S. Navy, as Assistant Surgeon, and 



was stationed on the west coast of Florida ; 
Dec. 7, 1865, he was discharged from the 
U. S. service ; he next attended a course 
of lectures in the Homeopathic College of 
New York, from which he graduated in 
March, 1866; he first located in Bidde- 
ford. Me., and entered upon the practice 
of his profession ; in September, 1S67, he 
came West to see, and located in Pekin, 
Tazewell Co.; in May, 1868, he came to 
Mattoon, his present residence. He was 
married April 14, 1869, to Harriet F. 
Chamberlain, a native of Indiana ; has 
three children — Helen L., Bertha L. and 
Clifford L. Mr. M. at present holds the 
office of School Director, and is Secretary 
of the Board. 

J. W. MOORE, lumber merchant, 
Mattoon ; was born in Kent Co., England, 
in June, 1832 ; when 10 years of age, he 
lost his father; in 1850, his mother, with 
her family, immigrated to America and 
settled in Chicago, where they remained 
about two and one-half years; they then 
removed to Cook Co., where himself and 
an older brother engaged in farming and 
operating a country store,, his mother man- 
aging largely the interests of her family ; 
in 1865, the subject of this sketch moved 
to Monee, Will Co., and, in company with 
a Mr. Dickson, under the firm name of 
Dickson & Moore, engaged in the sale of 
lumber and agricultural implements ; in 
1874, he came to Mattoon and opened up 
his present business. He w;is married in 
July, 1865, to Cordelia Si.sson, a native of 
Illinois ; they have three children — -Ernest 
S., Charles H. and Augusta E. He is a 
member of the School Board on the West 
Side. 

J. A. MULFORD, wholesale dealer in 
hides, leather, findings, furs, pelts and tal- 
low, Mattoon ; was born in Newark, N. J., 
May 16, 1839; he completed a course in 
the high school, but did not enter upon a 
college course ; at the age of 17, he began 
the trade of a jeweler, and worked un-ier 
instructions till his majority; he followed 
his trade about five years ; substHjuently 
he was employed as accountant, and had 
charge of the wholesale department of 
Davis & Elcox, in Maiden Lane, New 
York, for some length of time ; in the 
spring of 1867. he came West to Illinoia 
and located in Mattoon, and began op- 
erating in hides for the Chicago markets; 



MATTOON TOWNSHIP. 



553 



afterward, he operated for the Eastern 
markets ; to-day, he operates over a terri- 
tory extending west to St. Louis and east 
to Terre Haute ; by an admirable system 
of book-keeping, peculiarly his own. he is 
enabled at any hour to know the exact 
status of his business. He was married 
Sept. 10, 1863, to Sarah E. Pruden, a 
native of New Jersey; they have three 
children — E. Ross, Jennie and Herbert. 
Mr. Mulford is recognized as a man of 
fine business qualifications, and well 
worthy the success that has crowned his 
efforts. 

DANIEL MESSER, proprietor Essex 
House, Mattoon ; was born in Piermont, 
Orafton Co.. N. H., A. D. 1829; his 
fiither was a farmer, and his earlj^ life was 
that of a farmer's son ; in addition to his 
common-school education, he attended for 
some time a seminary of a high grade, in 
Bradford, Vt. ; at his majority he left 
home, and began life for himself; his first 
employment was that of overseeing a force 
of workmen on the Boston, Concord & 
Montreal Railroad ; he subsequently con- 
tracted on the Bufiiilo, Corning & New 
York Railroad ; in 1 853, he came West, 
and contracted on the St. Louis, Alton & 
Terre Haute Railroad, and on the comple- 
tion of the road, was appointed Eoadmas- 
ter from Terre Haute to Pana, which 
position he held from 1855 to I860 or 
1861 ; on leaving the road, he next 
operated the Messer House, in Charleston, 
till 1867; from 1867 to 1869, he owned 
and operated a planing-mill, at Charleston; 
in 1869, he leased the Essex House, at 
Mattoon, and has operated it for the past 
ten years ; with a house first-class in all its 
appointments, and himself possessed of all 
those necessary qualifications that go to 
make a successful landlord, he has met 
with deserved success, and is to-day re- 
garded one of the financially solid men of 
the city ; he is at present a Director in 
the First National Bank. 

W. H. K. PILE, real estate, collecting 
and insurance agent, Mattoon ; was born 
in Breckinridge Co., Ky., Feb. 17, 1819; 
he was reared on a. farm, and learned his 
trade, that of a wagon -maker, during his 
minority ; at the age of 20, he began life 
for himself, following his trade and that of 
a carpenter, till 25 years of age ; he 
then engaged in farming for five years ; in 



1855, he came West to Illinois, and set- 
tled south of Charleston, Coles Co. ; in 
185(), he came to Mattoon, and engaged 
in operating a hotel ; in 1857, he was 
elected Police Magistrate of the city ; in 
1858, he was chosen Associate Justice of 
Coles Co., with Judges Edwards and 
Leach ; in 1859, he was elected School 
Commissioner of Coles Co., and served two 
years; in the winter of 1862, he removed 
to Charleston and operated a hotel, and, in 
1863, located in Alton and engaged in the 
same business; in 1867, he returned to 
Mattoon, and engaged as traveling sales- 
man for a firm in Louisville, Ky. ; in 1869, 
he was again chosen Police Magistrate, and 
held the office four years ; in 1873, he was 
elected Justice of the Peace, and remained 
in office four years; during the years of 
1875, 1876 and 1877, he" traveled for a 
firm, loaning money on real estate ; for the 
past year he has devoted his time to the 
collection of claims, the transaction of real 
estate business, and has recently added the 
insurance agency. He was married in 
March, 1844, to Nancy J. Walkup, a na- 
tive of Kentucky. 

W. H. PAUGH, M. D., physician and 
surgeon, Mattoon ; was born in Lawrence 
Co., Ind., March 13, 1838; his father 
was a physician and settled in Indiana as 
early as 1815 ; in addition to his common- 
school education, he attended the high 
school at Springville, Ind., and in subse- 
quent years was Principal of the same. 
He naturally grew up into a physician, and 
to fix a period at which he began the .study 
of his profession would be a difficult task ; 
he practiced his profession many years be- 
fore receiving a medical degree ; he attended 
Rush Medical College one session; later, 
he attended the medical college at Keo- 
kuk, Iowa, from which he graduated in 
1.8'^6 ; in January, 1877, he located in 
Mattoon. He was married Oct. 25th, 
1868, to Lou E. Best, she died Oct. 26, 
1878. Has three children — Gertie, Phre- 
born G. and Lolo. Owns 120 acres in 
Madison 'Co., 111., and real estate in the 
city. 

A.G. PICKETT, M. D., physician and 
surgeon, Mattoon ; was born in Kenton Co., 
Ky., in 1826 ; his early life was spent for 
the most part in school ; he completed a 
full course in Woodward College, Cincin- 
nati, at which he graduated in 1844; he 



554 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



then entered the Ohio Medical College, 
and completed the course in 1 847 ; he be- 
gan the practice of his profession in Ohio, 
where he remained one year ; he then came 
West to Illinois, and located near Quincy, 
where he remained till 1801, when he en- 
tered the U. S. service as Surgeon of the 
50th Regiment I. V. I.; he remained in 
the service till November, 1864 ; on his 
return from the army, he located in Moul- 
trie Co., and followed his profession till 
1874, when he removed to Mattoon, He 
was married in 1862 to Amanda S. Jen-' 
kins, a native of Kentucky ; has four chil- 
dren — Alice S., Ada M., Willie A. and 
Lenore. Dr. Pickett very naturally grew 
up into a physician ; his father and many 
of his ancestors had been practitioners of 
the "healing art," and the j)rofcssion 
seemed to fall to him as a natural birth- 
right inheritance. 

L. G. ROBERTS, dental surgeon, Mat- 
toon ; was born in Ripley Co., Ky., Jan. 
18, 1846; his father, R. B. Roberts, was 
a dentist by profession, and a minister in 
the Christian Church ; his father came 
with his family to Indiana when L. G. was 
but 3 or 4 years of age, and in the fall of 
1864, he came to Illinois; his education 
was derived mostly from the common 
schools ; at the age of 18, he entered the 
dental office of Dr. Allen, in Ft. Wayne, 
Ind.; in 1864, he worked under instruc- 
tions with Dr. Moore, of La Fayette, Ind.; 
in the fall of the same year, he worked 
with Dr. Provost, of Dayton, Ohio, per- 
fecting himself for his profession under 
the directien of men of recognized ability ; 
in 1865, he began the practice of his pro- 
fession at El Paso, Woodford Co., 111.; in 
1873, he located in Mattoon, his present 
place of business. He was married Dec. 
25, 1873, to Mary A. Winn, a native of 
Ohio; has had two children — Leonidas G., 
living, and Prescott W., decea.scd. He 
has a fine and grnwing practice, and ranks 
second to none in the city or county as re- I 
gards proficiency and skill. 

J. O. RUDY, real estate agent, Mat- 
toon ; was born near Louisville, Jefferson 
Co., Ky., May 1, 1827 ; his parents moved 
to Illinois, and settled near Paris, Edgar 
Co., in 1830 ; his early life was spent 
upon the farm, and his early experiences 
were those of a farmer's son ; his educa- 
tion was derived from the common schools ; 



in 1850, he crossed the plains to ("alifor- 
nia, where for two years he applied him.self 
to mining; near the close of 1852, he re- 
turned, having as his reward for toil, hard- 
ships and privations, about $3,000 in gold ; 
on his return, he engaged for one year in 
operating the old homestead; near the 
close of 1853, he engaged as a partner in 
the dry goods business, in the firm of Au- 
gustus & Rudy, at Paris ; in the fall of 
1858. the firm closed out busine.ss, and he 
moved to his land in Douglas Co., and 
opened up, and improved his farm ; in 
1862, he was appointed Post Trader to the 
Pawnee Nation, under the administration 
of President Lincoln ; this position he 
held till the beginning of the administra- 
tion of Andrew Johnson, returning in the 
fall of 1865 ; he next went to Trumbull 
Co., Ohio, and engaged in sinking wells, 
and in the manufacture of lubricating oil ; 
this he followed one year ; in the spring of 
1867, he came to Mattoon, and in com- 
pany with Richard Champion and S. D. 
Dole, began the business of banking, un- 
der the firm name of Champion, Rudy & 
Co.; in 1872, he sold out his interest, and 
continued operating a planing-mill which 
he had [jreviously purchased ; this was 
soon after destroyed by fire ; since that 
time, he has devoted himself to the real 
estate busine.ss. He was married Sept. 29, 
1856, to Persis J. Dole, daughter of Wm. 
P. Dole, a very early settler nf Terre 
Haute, Ind.; her father held the position 
of Commissioner of Indian Aflairs under 
President Lincoln. Has seven children liv- 
ing — Prof. Wm. D. O. Rudy ( now Pro- 
fessor of Chemistry in Illinois Industrial 
Universiiy), Jennie F., Chas. E., Bessie 
D., Mary P., Gcwge H. and Hattie F.j 
has been a member of the Board of Edu- 
cation, West Side, for the past eight years ; 
has also held the office of Alderman for a 
number of terms. 

Z. R(H?ERTSON, farmer and me- 
chanic, Mattoon ; was born in Bourbon 
Co., Ky., Oct. 22, 1830 ; he obtained his 
education in the common schools of Paris, 
Ky.; his early life was passed upon the 
farm ; at, the age of 22 years, he left Ken- 
tucky and nioved to Greenfield, Ind.; here he 
followed the trade of plastering for about six 
years; in the winter of 1858, he came to 
Illinois, and settled in Mattoon, where for 
a number of years he continued his trade, 



< 



MATTOON TOWNSHIP. 



55& 



and that of farming; in 1S65, he pur- 
chased and improved a form of eighty 
acres, near the city ; tliis he sold in 1869, 
and again moved to the city and for some 
time, iollowed his trade; since coming to 
the State, he has improved three farms. 
He was married in 1855, to Rebecca J. 
Morrison, a native of Pennsylvania; has 
three children living — Oscar C., Mat tie J. 
and Belle F. His little daughter Fannie, 
whose death occurred in 1863, was the first 
interment made in the now thickly popu- 
lated cemetery near the city. As an evi- 
dence of his success in farming, he this 
year raised seventy-five bushels to the acre, 
while his neighbors harvested only from 
thirty to forty bushels per acre. 

REV. J. VV. RILEY, Pastor Mission- 
ary Baptist Church, Mattoon ; was born 
in Clermont Co., Ohio, Nov. 9, 1823 ; his 
ancestral line, traced througli five preced- 
ing generations have been ministers in the 
Baptist Church ; his father's family fur- 
nished six ministers to the society, himself 
and five sons. From an historical record 
gathered from time to time, it was ascer- 
tained that the family of near relatives 
have furnished thirteen ministers of the 
Gospel; ten of these are Baptists, two 
Methodists and one Christian. His father, 
Rev. J. W. Riley, Sr., founded the first 
Missionary Baptist Church in all this sec- 
tion ; this was at Bloomfield, Edgar Co., 
as early as 1835. Out of that grew the 
Bloomfield Baptist Association, which is 
to-day one of the largest in the State. His 
early life was spent upon the farm and in 
attendance upon school ; at the age of 15 
years, he became a member of the church,' 
and soon after began to take part in its 
public exercises ; he was ordained to the 
ministry April 26, 1845. He was mar- 
ried in 1843, to Olive J. Crouch, a native 
of Clermont Co., Ohio; she died April 4, 
1855. His second marriage occurred 
Sept. 7, 1856, to Sarah A. Vance, of 
Licking Co., Ohio ; she was educated at 
Granville College, Ohio. From first wed- 
lock he reared five children — three sons and 
two daughters ; from second, two sons. 
He came to Mattoon in November, 1864, 
and most of the time since has been Pastor 
of the Church. About the year 1866 or 
1867, his health having become impaired, 
he went South and spent some time re- 
cruiting; on his return, he was engaged 



most of the time far three years writing 
and compiling a work called U. S. A., 
the World's Empire Passing from Proph- 
ecy to History ; this is a work of 413 
pages, and is highly spoken of by eminent 
scholars and critics. His theological studies 
were prosecuted under Elders Jones and 
Cox, graduates of Granville College. 

JOHN F. StOTT, attorney at law, 
Mattoon ; was born in Geauga Co., Ohio, A. 
D. 1 844 ; his early life was spent upon the 
farm, and his experiences those common 
•to a farmer's son; at the age of 16, he 
became a student in the Eclectic Institute 
(now Hiram College), at that time pre- 
sided over by Gen. J.A.Garfield; here he 
remained one year ; returning home, he 
engaged in farming one year, and subse- 
quently engaged in teaching; in 1866, he 
entered the Commercial College in Pough- 
keepsie, N. Y., remaining eight months; 
he next engaged in the sale of territory for 
patent rights ; in 1868, he again engaged 
in farming; in March, 1869, he came 
West to Illinois, located in Mattoon, and 
was engaged in life, fire and accident 
insurance till 1874; he then came into the 
ofiice of H. S. Clark, and resumed his legal 
studies; in April, 1875, he entered the 
graduating class of the Ohio State and 
Union Law College, of Cleveland, from 
which he graduated in July, following; on 
his return, the legal firm of Clark & Scott 
was formed, and he has since devoted him- 
self to his profession. He was married in 
1868, to Sophia E. Clark, a native of Ohio; 
has two children — Earl C. and Montague 
W. In 1872, he was chosen Mayor of the 
city, and, by re-election, held the office 
three times in succession; in 1876, 1877 
and 1878, he was chosen Supervisor of 
Mattoon Tp., and ex-officio Treasurer ; he 
is at present Chairman of the Board. 

J. L. SCOTT, dealer in groceries, 
queensware and glassware, Mattoon ; was 
born in Henry Co., Ky., in 1836; his 
early life was passed upon the farm, and 
his education was derived from the com- 
mon schools; in 1856, he moved to Frank- 
lin, Ind., where he engaged in mercantile 
pursuits; in 1863, he returned to Ken- 
tucky, located in Louisville, and was em- 
ployed in the United States Government 
Pay Department, under Gen. Thurston, 
Paymaster of the Army of the Cumber- 
land ; in the spring of 1865, he removed 



556 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



with his paTents to Coles Co., 111., aod pur- 
chased a fiirm of 160 acres northeast of 
Mattoon ; in 1871, having disposed of his 
farm, he came to Mattoon, purchased a 
stock of groceries, and has siuoe resided 
here. He was married Dec. 10, 1861, to 
Catharine J. Runyon, a native of Vernon, 
Jennings Co., Ind ; has four children — 
William H., Mary F., Gracie and Charlie. 
Has held the ofBce of Supervisor of Hum- 
boldt Tp. ; is at present Worshipful Master 
of Mattoon Lodge, No. 260, A., F. & A. M. 

A. J. SANBORN, master mechanic, ^ 
I. & St. L. Shops, Mattoon ; was born in ' 
Acton, York Co., Me., in 1826; having 
lost his mother when but 11 years of age, 
he left home, and, making his way to Bos- 
ton, went on board a vessel, and was absent 
two years on a voyage ; alter coming into 
port, he made known to his father and 
family his adventures for the two years 
past ; he served seven years on the sea, sail- 
ing as second mate on board the ship Vesta, 
of Boston, and the brig Yucatan, in the 
South American trade ; at the age of 21 
years, he began his trade in the Lowell 
Machine-Shops. at Lowell, Mass ; here he 
remained two years ; he next went to Bos- 
ton and worked in the locomotive-shops of 
Hinckley & Drury for eighteen mouths; 
thence to Lawrence, Mass., to the Kssex 
.shops, one year ; in 1858, or 1859, became 
west to East St. Louis, and took charge of 
the erecting department of the O. & M. 
R. R ; in 1867, he took charge of the 
machinery on the Vandalia R. R., and, in 
1873, he took charge of the works for the 
I. & St. L. R. R. at Mattoon ; Mr. San- 
born is truly a self-made man ; his educa- 
tion ha.s been derived in the school of 
experience, and, whatever he undertakes to 
perform, he executes with an experienced 
and skillful- hand. 

JOHN W. SOULES, proprietor meat 
market, Mattoon ; was born in Terre Haute, 
Ind., Nov. 10, 1828; his father was a 
farmer, and his early life was spent upon 
the farm ; his education was limited 
•entirely to the common school ; he re- 
mained at home till his majority ; at the 
age of 21 years, he engaged in the packing 
house of FcrrinsrtDn &, Williams, of Terre 
Haute, where he remained five years ; he 
was next engaged in the same business 
with Jacob D. Early three years ; in 1860, 
he came to Mattoon and took charge of a 



packing-house for Messrs. Miller & John- 
son, and remained with them four years ; 
in 1864, he took charge of a similar estab- 
lishment for P. H. Flarity, remaining nine 
years; he next engaged in his present 
business. He was married Oct. 20, 
1849, to Eveline Baile}', a native of 
Indiana ; has had six children — Mary E., 
Laura L., William H., Emma, Charles L., 
living; Ocalla, deceased. Owns city prop- 
erty. He superintended the constructinn 
of the reservoir designed to supply the 
city with water. 

ADOLF SUMERLIN, editor and 
attorney at law, Mattoon ; born in Keo- 
saucjua, Iowa, Aug. 24, 1851 ; moved with 
his parents, Rufus and I. A. Sumerlin, to 
a farm in Scotland Co., Mo., in 1859 ; his 
father having embarked in the newspaper 
business in Memphis in 1860, he com- 
menced learning the printer's trade ; in 
1865, he moved to Shelbyville, 111.; in 
1869, he conducted the reportorial depart- 
ment of the Shelby Leader, which his 
father had purchased in 1865 ; in the same 
year, commenced reading law with Thorn- 
ton & Wendling ; moved with his parents 
to Springfield, Mo., in April, 1871, and 
after completing his law studies in Phelps 
& Me Abel's office, was admitted to practice 
in the courts of Missouri in October, 1871 ; 
moved to Mattoon, 111., in September, 
1872, and with his father purchased the 
Mattoon Commercial ; they continued to 
run the paper together until August, 1876, 
when the paper was purchased by the 
Mattoon Commercial Printing Co., who 
appointed A. Sumerlin editor ; at present, 
is editor of the Commercial and practicing 
law. 

CAPT. T. E. WOODS, editor Mattoon 
Journal. Mattoon ; was born June 2, 
1837, near the present village of Stockton, 
Coles Co.. [11.; his education was secured 
in subscri])tion and common schools, and 
for a short time he attended an academy ; 
he usually walked or rode from two to five 
miles each morning to attend school ; at 
the age of 17, he began teaching school, 
and followed that occupation till he 
reached his majority ; he was Deputy 
Postmaster at Mattoon during 1855 and 
1856 ; he then edited and publislied the 
Mattoon Gazette from 1857 to 1860 ; during 
the year 1861, he edited the Charleston 
Courier; in the summer of 1862, he enlisted 



I 



MATTOON TOWNSHIP. 



557 



in Co. A, 123d I. Mounted Inf., , 
was mustered in Co. F, and went to the 
field as Quartermaster Sergeant ; he was 
made Sergeant Major at Maysville, Ala.; ' 
commissioned Captain Co. H,at Stevenson, 
Ala., early in 1864, and commanded it to 
the close of the war ; since the war. he has 
conducted the Mattoon Journal, first as a 
weekly, next as a tri- weekly and at present 
as a daily. At present he resides in Wash- 
ington, I). C, where he fills an appoint- 
ment in the Post Office Department. 

REV. J. W. WOODS, C. P. minister, 
Mattoon ; was born in the Territory of 
Indiana, Feb. 5, 1815. He Ls the son of 
"Wm. G. and Rachel (Lester) Woods ; his 
father was a farmer and his early boyhood 
days were spent upon the farm ; his educa- 
tion was obtained mainly at Pilot Knob 
Academy, under the instruction of Prof D. 
R. Harris; when 10 years of age, he came '. 
■with his parents to Clark Co., III. ; his 
father settling about four miles east of the 
present town of Marshall, his house became 
the resort for most business transactions in 
that part of the county ; it was the 
" preaching-place " for fifteen years, until 
the building of a church in the neighbor- 
hood. At the age of 17, young Woods be- 
came a member of the church, and in 
May, 1834, of the Presbytery; in June, 
1837, he began his public ministry in 
Clark Co., 111., and, for a number of y«ars, 
labored in Coles, Douglas, Cumberland, 
Shelby and other counties in this section ; 
in October, 1839, he was ordained to the 
full work of the ministry; in 1859, he ; 
moved to Mattoon for the purpose of build- 
ing the church in the city ; under his direc- 
tion and superintendence, the church was 
built, and he was Pastor until September, 
1861, when he entered the U. S. service as 
Chaplain of the 5th I. V. C., and remained in 
the service until Jan. 8, 1865 ; on his re- 
turn from the army, he again labored for 
the church in Mattoon one year and four 
months ; two years ago, he built the 



church ten miles south of Mattoon, in 
Cumberland Co., called Woods' Chapel, 
and has since labored for the congregation 
at that point. He was married Nov. 4, 
1841, to Eliza A. Funkhouser, a native of 
Wayne Co., 111.; nine children have been 
born to them — Mary C. (wife of W. B. 
Dunlap), Elizabeth J., Cynthia A. (wife 
of J. R. Tobey), Celestina C. (wife of 
O. C. Hoddy), Eliza N. (wife of E. V. 
Burnett), William L'R., John P., Ida 
Belle, Alice L. ; of these, Elizabeth J. 
and William L'R. are deceased. Has been 
a member of the City Council and East 
Side School Board. He has always been 
liberal in the use of his means toward the 
Church. 

H. C. WATSON, time-keeper and clerk 
M. M. I. & St. L. shops, Mattoon ; was 
born in New Madrid, New Madrid Co., 
Mo., July 27, 1827; his father .was a 
Scotchman and was one of the early West- 
ern pioneers, having come West as early 
as 1805. Having obtained a good com- 
mon school education, in 1844, he became 
a student in Prof. J. B. Anderson's high 
school, in New Albany, Ind. ; this he at- 
tended one year; in 1845, he attended 
St. Vincent's College at Cape Girardeau ; 
in 1848, he matriculated in Bethany Col- 
lege, Va., and remained one year ; on his 
return home, he engaged in merchandising, 
and followed the business till 1863; by 
reason of the war, he lost most of his stock 
and trade ; he moved with his family to 
Litchfield, 111., and, in 1865, entered the 
offiiceof the Master Mechanic of the St. L., 
A. & T. H. R. R., as clerk and time- 
keeper; in 1867, the I. & St. L. leased 
the road, and, in 1870, when the shops 
were removed from Litchfield to Mattoon, 
he came with them. He was married in 
November, 1852, to Sarah C. Post, a na- 
tive of Alton, 111. ; has five children — ■ 
William G., Harry W., Frank E., Jennie, 
Gertie. Has held the office of School 
Director, East Side. 



558 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



EAST OAKLAND TOWNSHIP. 



JACOB V. D. ANNIN, farmer, de- 
ceased ;in the early part of tho seventeenth 
century, there emigrated from their native 
land of Scotland, one John Annin, with 
his family, and settled in the beautiful 
State of New Jersey, where he erected a 
log house, in which he and his family lived 
for manj' years ; and if it be asked. How 
came his lot to be cast in that fertile valley, 
far from the land of his birth? the answer 
is til be found in the terrible story of the 
religious persecutions that, in the latter 
part of the seventeenth, and the early 
part of the eighteenth century, desolated 
and depopulated the land of his birth; in 
the year 1766, William Annin (son of 
John Annin) who emigrated with his par- 
ents from Scotland, erected near the old 
log cabin, a stone house, the history of 
which occupies a dear place in the hearts 
of the descendants of its builder, who was 
a stern Whig patriot in the New Jersey 
Legislature for a period of thirty years, 
and who furnished all the aid and comfort 
in his power to the friends of free gov- 
ernment, during the dark days of the 
Revolutionary struggle ; in this house, he 
and his descendants lived for four genera 
tions; in this house was born John Annin, 
son of William Annin, the builder, and 
father of Jacob V. I). Annin, who was 
also born in the old stone house, Juno 4, 
1796 ; here he passed the days of his 
youth ; a description of the above house, 
is given in a work entitled " Centennial 
Celebration of the Annin Family at the 
Old Stone House, in Somerset Co., N. J., 
Aug. 15, 1866 ; " the description is given 
as follows : The scene of this celebration 
was an old stone house, some 50 feet front, 
by 40 in depth, with substantial walls, wide 
hall, and large open stairway ; it stands 
embowered in trees in one of the prettiest 
little valleys of the State, through which 
flows a small stream, a branch of the head- 
waters of the Pas-saic ; on the above date, 
the descendants of John Annin, met in 
this venerable mansion to thank God, for 
these, and all other blessings, which, during 
that century had attended them and theirs ; 
they came, representatives of every period 
of life, from infancy to old age ; they came 
in number 120, at the invitation of the 



venerable owner and occupant, then in his 
77th year; they visited the baiscment, 
where, during the Revolution, patriot 
soldiers had cooked their frugal rations, 
where, at other times, schools had been 
kept, and the Word of God had been 
preached to attentive audiences, convened 
from the neighborhood ; here the subject of 
this sketch, Jacob V. D. Annin, passed 
the days of his youth ; here he received 
his education, and labored upon the 
farm, and continued to live in Somerset 
Co., N. J., until 1850, when, seeking new 
fields of labor, he emigrated with his fam- 
ily West, and located first in Lee Co., 111., 
where he lived until 1S52, when he located 
in East Oakland Tp., Coles Co., III., where 
he engaged in farming until his decease. 
His marriage with Letty Winne, was cele- 
brated Dee. 27, 1821 ; she was born in 
Bergen Co., N. J., April 4, 1803 ; she died 
in Coles Co., 111., April 14, 1873, leaving 
four children now living — John, Martin 
W., Samuel A. and Jacob V. W. (the 
biographies of the last three will be found 
in this work) ; Mr. Annin was one of the 
most industrious, hard-working and suc- 
cessful farmers in the township in which 
he lived, and was held in high esteem and 
great respect in the community in which 
he lived ; he died June 15, 1878, upon 
the place where he had lived since his first 
settlement in Coles Co. 

MARTIN W. ANNIN, carpenter and 
builder, Oakland; the subject of this sketch 
is the son of J. V. D. Annin, whose bi- 
ography appears in this work, and whose 
genealogy is given for four generations past ; 
he was born in Somerset Co., N. J., Jan. 5, 
1831, where he engaged in farming until 
15 years of age, when he went to Brook- 
lyn, N. Y., and learned and worked at' 
the carpenter trade until 20 years of age, 
when he emigrated; with his parents, and 
located in Lee Co., III., in 1850, remain- 
ing here a short time, when he went to 
Peoria Co., and worked at his trade until 
January, 1852, when he removed to 
Oakland, Coles Co., III., and engaged 
in contracting and building, which busi- 
ness he has since successfully fol- 
lowed ; he owns his residence in 
Oakland, which he erected in 1877 ; 



EAST OAKLAND TOWNSHIP. 



559 



also his shop, located at Lauson's lumber- 
yard, East Oakland Depot; his business 
card will be found in the business directory 
of Oakland, in another part of this work. 
He married Jan. 10, 18(31, to Angeliue 
T. Payne; she was born in Hamilton Co., 
Ohio, July 27, 1833, and emigrated with 
her parents to this county in 1835; they 
have one child by this union — OUie. born 
June 15. 1864. 

SAMUEL A. ANNIN, farmer, S. 23 ; 
P. 0. Oakland ; born in Somerset Co., N. 
J., Nov. 8, 1836, where he attended school 
until 1850, when he emigrated with his 
parents to Illinois, and located in Wyo- 
ming Tp., Lee Co., where he assisted his 
father iu farming until January, 1852, 
when he located in East Oakland Tp., and 
engaged in farming, which business he has 
since followed, living upon the old home- 
stead where his father first located in 1852, 
during a period of nearly thirty years ; he, 
with his younger brother, owns some 400 
acres of land, which is well improved, and 
upon which, they each have good build- 
ings. He married May 3, 1866, to Sarah 
M. Hall ; she was born in Fairfield Co., 
Ohio, Nov. 13, 1841 ; they have two chil- 
dren by this union, viz.: Winnie, born 
Aug. 7, 1867; George, Aug. 5, 1869. 
Mrs. Annin emigrated from Ohio and lo- 
cated in Illinois when 8 years of age ; Mr. 
Anniu is son of Jacob V. D. Annin, whose 
biography appears in the biographical 
.sketches of this township. 

J.V.W. ANNIN, farmer; P.O. Oakland; 
born in Somerset Co., N. J., July 29, 
1841 ; he emigrated with his parents 
when he was 9 years of age, and located 
in Wyoming Tp., Lee Co., 111., in 1850, 
living there until January, 1852, when he 
removed with his parents to East Oakland 
Tp., Coles Co., 111., where he has since con- 
tinued to live ; he, with his brother Sam- 
uel, own 400 acres of land, among which, 
is the old homestead, upon which they set- 
tled when they first located here nearly 
thirty years ago ; while they own the above 
property in company, each has a good set of 
buildings of his own. He married Feb. 24, 
1871, Martha A. Boyle; she was born in 
New Jersey Aug. 1 ,1846 (her parents were 
among the early settlers of Coles Co. ); they 
have five children by this union, viz., Co- 
ra A., Albert S., Edward M., Robert A. 
and Arthur C, Mr. Annin is the youn- 



gest son of Jacob V. D. Annin, who loca- 
ted here in 1852, and whose biography 
appears in this work, and in which appeari 
the genealogy for the past four genera- 
tions of the Annin family. 

S. H. ASHMORE, fiirmer and stock- 
raiser; P.O. Kansas; born in Butler Co., Ky., 
Jan. 29, 1822 ; he emigrated with his par- 
ents when quite young and located in 
Clark Co., Ill, about the year 1826, where 
he lived until about 1828, when he re- 
moved to Coles Co., and located before the 
organization of the township in what ia 
now known as Ashmore Tp., where he 
lived until 1836, when he located in East 
Oakland Tp., where he has since lived. 
He lived with his parents until 23 years of 
age, at which time he married, and rent- 
ing a farm, commenced farming for himself; 
his stock then consisted of a team of po- 
nies and two cows ; after renting two years 
he purchased eighty acres of land, for 
which he partly paid at the time, the 
balance was paid within two years ; he has 
added since by purchase, until he now 
owns upward of 600 acres iu Coles and 
Edgar Counties. He married June, 1845, 
to ftlatilda Boyer ; she was born in Edgar 
Co., Oct. 4, 1827 ; she died Oct. 14, 1875, 
leaving five 'children, two of which are 
since deceased ; the names of the living 
are William M., Nancy J. (now Mrs. 
James Buckler), and Emanda E. Mr. 
Ashmore held the office of School Director 
iu his district for upward of twenty years. 

J. H. BRANNON, farmer, Sec. 7; P. 
O. Oakland; born in Rockingham Co. 
Va., Sept. 1, 1836, where he engaged in 
farming until 19 years of age, when, in 
1855, he emigrated to Missouri, where his 
father died soon after his arrival, when he 
returned to Virginia, remaining during the 
winter, and, in the spring of 1856, he re- 
turned to Illinois, and located in Oakland 
Tp., Coles Co., and engaged in farming, 
which business he has since successfully 
followed; he owns 200 acres of land, mostly 
under cultivation. His marriage with 
Sally A. Troswell was celebrated Nov. 11, 
1858 ; she was born in Coles Co., 111., her 
parents being among the early pioneers of 
this county, settling here at an early day ; 
they have eight children by this union — 
Winfield, Edward, Clara, Semantha H., 
John W., Hiram L., Franklin and Min- 
nie L. 



560 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



JOHN BUCKLER, farmer, Sec. 4; 
P. O. Oakland ; born in Marion Co., Ky., 
June 22, 1838, where he was engaged 
farming until l(i years of age, when he 
removed to Illinois and located in Edgar 
Co., in 1854, where he was employed as 
farm laborer until 1862, at which time he 
rented and farmed until 1874, when he 
purchased eighty acres, which he worked 
four years ; then sold out, and, after living 
in Douglas Co. eight months, purchased 
his present place of 160 acres, where he 
now lives, on Sec. 4, East Oakland Tp. 
He married April 7, 186j, to Harriet 
Davis ; she was born in Clark Co., 111.; 
they have five children by this union, viz., 
Rosannah, Richard T., Emma Jane, Lor- 
enzo Dow, Nettie V. 

JOHN BUR WELL, retired farmer ; 
P. O. Oakland; born in Morris Co., N. 
J., Feb. 1, 1813, where he engaged 
in the manufacture of wrought iron until 
19 years of age, when he emigrated West 
and engaged at his trade in the States of 
Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio, until 
1840, when he abandoned his trade and 
located upon his farm in Delaware Co., 
Ohio, where he lived until 1851, when, 
selHng his farm, he emigrated West and 
located in Embarrass Tp., Edgar Co., 111., 
purchasing a farm of 480 acres, which he 
worked unlil the spring of 185G, when he 
removed to Oakland, where he has since 
continued to live, with the exception of 
two years which he spent upon his farm; 
he owns 310 acres of prairie and timber 
land in Coles Co., 111., and 320 acres in 
Henry Co., near Newton, Kan. He mar- 
ried Sept. 19, 1833, to Missouri Thorp; 
she was born in Franklin Co., Ohio ; she 
died in 1853, leaving five children — 
Amos, Mary, Moses, John, Alice. His 
marriage with Lucy Ann Terhune was 
celebrated Sept. 19, 1853; she was born 
in Johnson Co., Ind. ; she died in 1856, 
leaving one chijd, since deceased. He 
married April 18, 1857, for his third 
wife, Nannie McCrum ; she was born in 
Huntingdon Co., Pcnn., Oct. 3, 1820 ; one 
vhild was the fruit of this union — Frank 
P., born Dec. 31, 1859. Mr. Burwell 
i'ullowed milling in Oakland from 1856 
until 1875, when he rented his flour and 
feed mill and retired from active labor. 

JOSIAH H. Bi;SBEY, book-keeper, 
Okaland ; born in Coles Co., 111., Jan. 6, 



1847, where he engaged in farming and 
attended school until Feb. 24, 1864, when 
he enlisted in the 66th I. V. I., and went 
forward to battle for the Union ; the 66th 
was composed of picked men from the va- 
rious Northwe.stern States, elected for 
their skill and accuracy in handling the 
rifle, and in the army was known as the 
Western Sharpshooters ; they always led 
the advance, and in important battles were 
detailed in sijuads to silence rebel bat- 
tries, which duty they often accomplished 
by their unerring aim, and many a Union 
soldier to-day owes his existence to the 
skill and bravery of the gallant 66th ; he 
was with Sherman on his march to and 
at the siege and capture of Atlanta ; at 
Lay's Ferry, being in the advance, they 
fought their way, step by step, for eight 
miles, losina: heavily in killed and wounded ; 
in the battles of Rome Cross Roads, Dal- 
las and Kenesaw Mountain, they suft'ered 
severely; he was with Sherman on his 
march through Georgia to the sea, arriving 
in Savannah to spend the Christmas of 
1864 ; he then marched with his regiment 
north through North and South Carolina, 
being engaged in many battles until reach- 
ing Morrisville Station, N. C, when the 
66th again had their position in the ad 
vanee of Sherman, not to deadly conflict- 
as they had many times been before, but. 
to receive the surrender of Johnston and 
his army ; he then marched to Richmond, 
Va., then to Washington, where, after the 
review of the army, he went to Louisville, 
Ky., where he was mustered out of the 
service July 7, 1865 ; in 1864, while com- 
ing North upon a furlough, he was made 
prisoner, but paroled, and at the expiration 
of his furlough, again joined his regiment, 
and remained until the close of the war. 
After being mustered out of .service, he re- 
turned to Oakland, and worked at harness 
making for two years, when he went to 
Kansas, where he clerked eight months, re- 
turning to Illinois, he worked at his trade 
for six months, which he then abandoned ■ 
on account of ill-health, and, in 1870, en- 
gaged as a book-keeper and head clerk in 
the dry goods hcjuse of L. S. & S. M. 
Cash, which position he has since held, 
with tlie exception of three years, which 
he spent in Virginia, on account of the ill- 
health of his wife. Ho married Nov. 18, 
1869, Mary B. Cash, daughter of Cary J. 



EAST OAKLAND TOWNSHIP. 



561 



Cash, and niece of L. S. & S. M. Cash; 
she was born in Amherst Co., Va., July 
15, 1851 ; one child was the fruit of the 
union — Ollie Jlay, deceased. 

W. D. BUSBEY, farmer and harness- 
maker, Oakland ; one of the pioneers of 
Coles Co. ; born in Clark Co., Ohio, Doc. 
28, 1820, where he engaged in farming un- 
til 19 years of age, when he emigrated 
West in 1839, and located in Coles. Co., 
111., where he engaged in farming for a pe- 
riod of fifteen years ; in 1860, he located 
in Oakland, and engaged in the harness 
and saddlery trade, which business he has 
since followed, in connection with farming ; 
he owns his shop and eighty acres of land, 
upon which his residence stands, which he 
erected in 1854; he held the office of Jus- 
tice of the Peace for upward of sixteen 
years in the township in which he lives. 
He married in April, 1845, to Letitia 
Black ; she was born in Indiana in 1824 ; 
she died May 1, 1855, leaving three chil- 
dren — Josiah, Milton and WiUiam. His 
marriage with Margaret A. Newman, was 
celebrated Feb. 23, 1860; she was born in 
Jefferson Co., Tenn., Dec. 18, 1826 ; they 
have one child now living by this union — 
Frankie. Her parents were pioneer settlers 
of Coles Co., locating here in 1834. Mr. 
Busbey has been a resident of Oakland 
since 1845, a period of upward of thirty- 
three years. 

S. M. CASH, merchant, deceased ; born 
in Nelson Co., Va., March 13, 1829, where 
he lived until 8 years of age, when he 
removed to Amherst Co., where he at- 
tended school and engaged in farming until 
16 years of age, after which time he was 
engaged for eighteen months at Lexington 
learning the cabinet-maker's trade ; then 
coming West he located in Paris, Edgar 
Co., 111., in the fall of 1847, where he 
completed his trade, when he associated 
with his brother Henry, and located in 
Westfield, Clark Co., where they engaged 
ill the furniture trade from 1849 until the 
.spring of 1851, when he located at Oak- 
land, where he engaged in the furniture 
business until 1856 ; at which time he as- 
sociated with his brother, L. S. Cash, in 
the dry goods trade, which business he 
continued in connection with forming, 
stock-raising and shipping until his death, 
which occurred April 12, 1877; in the 
spring of 1869, their store with its contents 



was destroyed by fire, by which they met 
with a loss of upward of $8,000 above 
in.surance ; they at once erected a fine brick 
store, into which they moved, and the sur- 
viving partner still continues the business 
under the old firm name. His marriage 
with Adeline Crawford was celebrated 
April 18, 1850 ; she was born in Butler 
Co., Ohio, April 17, 1831 ; eight children 
were the fruit of this union, five of which 
are deceased, the names of the living are 
Alice M., now Mrs. J. R. Lauson, born 
Dec. 31, 1854 ; Wilson M., born Dec. 6, 
1861, and Stanley C, born March 15, 
1871. Mr. Cash was an active member 
of the I. 0. O. F. and Oakland Lodge, 
No. 219, A., F. & A. M, Oakland 
Chapter No. 153, R. A. M., and a 
Knight Templar, being a member of 
the Palestine Commandery at Paris ; he 
was a member of the Methodist Church 
for eighteen years previous to his death, 
and was held in high esteem and great 
respect in the community in which he 
lived. 

REV. J. P. CAMPBELL, minister and 
editor of Oakland Herald, Oakland ; born 
in Macoupin Co., 111., June 9, 1842 ; 
when 2 years of age, he removed with his 
parents to Clinton Co., where, after living 
five years he removed to Kentucky, where 
he attended the common schools until 19 
years old, when he entered the Beuleyville 
Academy, and, after attending several 
months, enlisted as private in the 3d Ken- 
tucky Cavalry, serving six months, when, 
on account of physical disability, he was 
discharged ; after remaining at home three 
months, he re-;nlisted for twelve months 
in the 52d Kentucky Mounted Infantry, 
serving eighteen months ; he was mustered 
out, and enlisted in the 17th Kentucky 
Cavalry, and served during the war ; he 
then finished his education at the academy ■ 
and engaged in school-teaching and preach- 
ing until 1871, when he located in Coles 
Co., 111., and after preaching in Ashmore, 
and other churches in the circuit until 
1877, then located in Oakland, where he 
now lives ; in the spring of 1878, he be- 
came editor of the Oakland Herald, which 
position he now holds ; this is the only pa- 
per in the town of Oakland. He married 
April 5, 1867, to Lucy E. Johnson ; she 
was born in Breckinridge Co., Ky., March 
29, 1849 ; they have three children now 



56-2 



BIOURAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



living by this union — Tiiomas J., Jethro 
P. and William H. 

L. S. CASH, merchant, farmer and 
stock-raiser, Oakland; born in Nelson Co., 
Va., Jan. 12, 1827, where he attended 
school until 10 years of age, when, upon 
his father's decease, he removed to Amherst 
Co., where he attended school and engaged 
in farming until 18-17, when he, with the 
family, emigrated West, and located in 
Paris, 111., in October, of the same year ; 
during the December following, he buried 
his mother and two older brothers within 
a period of ten days ; he learned and 
worked at the plasterer's trade here for two 
years, when, in March, 1850, he started 
overland, with an ox-team, for California, 
taking the old Oregon route, via Fort Hall, 
and, on August 18, of the same year, he 
arrived at the Placerville diggings, where 
he remained a short time ; then to Sumner 
River, then to North Greenwood Valley ; 
during the winter and the spring following, 
he went twenty-five miles south of Placer- 
ville to Dry Creek, where, meeting with 
fair success, he remained until his return 
home, sailing upon June 1, 1853; coming 
via New York, he arrived in Paris, 111., 
July 1, making the trip in thirty days ; he 
then located in Oakland, where he worked 
at the plasterer's trade until 185G, when he 
engaged in the dry goods trade, with his 
brother, under the firm name of L. S. & 
S. M. Cash, which hi> still continues, since 
the death of his brother, which occurred 
April 12, 1S77; he has had the entire 
management of the store, together with 
800 acres of land, which they owned to- 
gether at the above date; in 1869, their 
store, with its contents, was destroyed by 
fire, by which they met with a loss of 
B8,000, above in.surancc ; he erected hi.s 
fine brick residence in 1874, where he has 
since lived. He married. May 2, 1860, 
Roena Sargent ; she was born in Coles Co. 
May 10,1839; she died March 18, 1869, 
leaving two children, now living — Ella W. 
and Lulu R. ; his marriage with Susan 
Green was celebrated Dec. 30, 1873 ; she 
was born in Coles Co. Nov. 17. 1S14; 
they hare two children, now living, by this 
union — Logan S. and Alice. 

MARION P.CASH,traveling.salesmau; 
P. 0. Terre Haute, Ind. ; born in Nelson 
Co., Va., April 14, 1833, he removed to 
Amherst Co., with the family, when 4 



years of age, where he lived until 14 yejirs 
of age, when he emigrated to Illinois and 
located in Paris, Edgar Co., in the fall uf 
1847; after farming one year, he learned 
and worked at the cabinet-maker's trade 
for three years, in Paris ; he came to Oak- 
land, Coles Co., and worked one year at 
kis trade, when he engaged with his brother 
in the furniture trade for two years; he 
then sold out and engaged in the drug 
trade one year ; in 1855, he was appointed 
Postmaster of Oakland, at which date he 
engaged in the grocery and confectionery 
trade, which he continued until 1857, when 
he sold out and again engaged in the fur- 
niture business until 1861, when he re- 
moved to Westfield, Clark Co., and man- 
aged the merchandise trade of H. H. Cash 
& Bro., until 1863; he then engaged as 
traveling salesman for a wholesale notion 
house at Terre Haute one year ; he then 
went to Cincinnati and engaged in the 
same business until 1867, when he bought 
out a dry goods store at Kans;is Station, 
which he ran until 1869, when, selling 
out, he again engaued as traveling sales- 
man, which business he continued until 
1877, for Torre Haute and Cincinnati 
wholesale houses; in 1877, he engaged in 
farming, and in September, 1878, he en- 
gaged as traveling salesman for the Terre 
Haute Woolen-Mills, which business he 
has since followed. He married, March 
31, 1853, to Elizabeth J. Ashmore ; she 
was born in East Oakland Tp., Coles Co., 
111., March 23. 1833; she was a daughter 
of James Ashmore, who emigrated from 
Tennessee, aud located in Coles Co., at a 
very early period, where he lived until his 
decease ; Mr. Cash has eight children now 
living — William A , Marcus L., Emery E., 
Sarah B., Rosa A., George B., Marion R. 
and Alvin B. ; Mr. Cash is a brother of L. 
S. and S. M. Cash, whose biographies ap- 
pear among the biographies of Oakland Tp. 
R. B. CLARKE, merchant, Oakland; 
born in Madison Co., N. Y., Oct. 3, 1814, 
wliere he was engaged in farming until he 
attained his majority, when he emigrated 
to Ohio, where he engaged in theunrchan- 
dise trade and distilling whisky for cigli- 
t,?en y(!Brs ; in 1852, lie came to Illinois, 
and, in 1854, located in Oakland, and, with 
C. Clement, erected the fir-it flour, feed 
and saw mill built in thi> town; he fol- 
lowed this business for ujiward of twelve 



EAST OAKLAND TOWNSHIP. 



563 



years, when he sold his mill; in 1868, he 
engaged in the grocery and hardware trade, 
which he has since successfully followed, 
being assisted in the same by his son, 
Orrin M. He married, Oct. 1, 1849, to 
Margaret D. Welch; she was born in Pair- 
field" Co., Ohio, Jan. 31, 1816; they have 
four children now living by this union, 
viz.: Orrin M., Clara B.. Mary J. and Odd 
R., Orrin M. Clark, the oldest son, 
was born in Ohio May 15, 18.50; he was 
married to Alice K. Adams July 15, 1874 ; 
she was born in Lawrence Co., Ind., Jan. 
27, 1859 ; they are the parents of three 
children now living, viz., Clara B., Claude 
D. and Jessie C. ; Mr. Clark is engaged 
with his father in the general management 
of his business. 

T. S. COFFIN, merchant, Oakland ; 
born in Cornville, Somerset Co., Me., 
Oct. 7, 1832, where he was engaged in 
farming and attending school in winter 
until 18 years of age, when, after finishing 
lii.-* academical studies, he engaged in 
school-teaching for two years, then as 
clerk in dry goods store four years ; he 
then engaged in the dry goods business for 
two years, when, in 1858, he went to 
California, where he resided about nine 
years, mining and speculating in mines, 
making and losing several fortunes, but 
finally was successful, and in the fall of 
1867, he .spent the winter visiting the 
.scenes of his childhood in Maine, and the 
following spring, located in the dry goods 
trade at Oakland, which business he has 
since successfully followed. His marriage 
with Susan J. Winkler was celebrated 
March 5. 1872; she is daughter of 
David Winkler, one of the pioneers of 
Coles Co. They have three children by 
this union, viz., Carrie E., Eda M. and 
Harry H. 

RICHARD COLE, farmer; P. 0. Oak- 
land ; born in Putnam Co., Ind., Dec. 8, 
1835. where he attended school during 
winter and engaged in farming until 1871, 
when he emigrated to Illinois and located 
upon his present place, where he has since 
continued to live. Upon his arrival here, 
he purchased 160 acres of land, mostly 
prairie, where he ' has since success- 
fully followed f^irming. He married 
Catharine A. Swinford April 13, 1858; 
they have three children now living by 
thiii union — James P., born Feb. 25, 



1861 ; Mary E., born Jan. 23, 1863; Lucy 
A., born March 2, 1868. Mr. Cole has 
held the oflBce of School Director in the 
district in which he lives. Mrs. Cole was 
born in Harrison Co., Ky., July 23, 
1 838 ; her parents removed to Indiana 
when she was an infant, where she lived 
until her marriage. 

EDWARD CONAGHAN, merchant, 
Oakland; born in County Donegal, Ire- 
land, Aug. 15, 1841, where he engaged 
in farming until 18 years of age, when he 
emigrated to America, landing in New 
York in the fall of 1859 ; coming directly 
to Charleston, he engaged with his brother 
peddling, taking his stock of goods upon 
his back and selling from house to house ; 
after following this for uine months for 
his brother, he commenced peddling on his 
own account, taking his first stock of 
goods, which invoiced at $20, in a pack 
upon his back, working in all kinds of 
weather, until 1863, when he associated 
with his brother and engaged in the hotel 
business at Peoria, 111., which, proving un- 
profitable, they closed out, and, after pay- 
ing all their indebtedness, he had barely 
enough means left to again start his porta- 
ble dry goods and notion store, which con- 
sisted, as described above, of his pack, 
which he carried upon his back, buying 
his goods direct from first hands in New 
York, which enabled him to compete with 
the largest dealers in Coles Co.; he con- 
tinued doing business in this manner un- 
til 1871, when he associated with David 
Jones, and located in Oakland in the 
grocery and queensware trade, which they 
continued until Jan. 3, 1876, when, pur- 
chasing his partner's interest, he added a 
stock of dry goods, clothing, etc., until he 
now carries a stock second to none in town, 
and his bu.siness is yearly increasing. 
Upon his arrival at Charleston, he was not 
only penniless, but was in debt for his fare 
to this country, and his first earnings were 
used to pay this indebtedness; he now 
has a good property which he has accu- 
mulated by his hard labor, perseverance 
and industry, and the above traits of char- 
acter are well worthy of imitation. 

JOHN a. CRAWFORD, farmer and 
stock-raiser; P.O.Oakland; born in Morgan 
Co., Ind., Aug. 10, 1837, where he attended 
school in winter and was engaged in farm- 
ing in summer until he was 23 years of 

4 ' 



564 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



age, when, in the spring of 1860, he re- 
moved to Illinois, locating in Douglas Co., 
where he engaged in farming until 1865, 
when he returned to his native home, re- 
maining there two years ; then coming 
West again, he continued farming nearly 
two years in Douglas Co., when in 1869, 
he removed to Oakland and erected a fine 
residence where he now lives ; he also 
owns several farms, containing upward of 
1000 acres, in this and adjoining counties, 
all under cultivation ; he makes a specialty 
of stock-raising, usually feeding from lOO 
to 200 head of cattle. He married Jan. 
10, 1866, to Virginia Valodin ; she was 
born in New Madrid, Mo., November, 
1838 ; three children were the fruits of this 
union — Dora and James, both deceased, 
John F., now living, born Aug. 9, 1874. 

CHARLES CURTIS, flirmer; P.O Oak- 
land; born in Oakland, Coles Co., 111., Dec 5, 
1841 ; his father died when he was an in- 
fant, and he continued to live with his 
mother until her marriage with John Dol- 
lar, with whom he then lived until the 
spring of 1862, when he enlisted in the 
63d I. V. I., and went forward to battle 
for the Union ; he was in many severe 
battles, among which were the siege and 
capture of Vicksburg, Chickamauga, Mis- 
sionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Atlan- 
ta, and was with Sherman's army through 
Georgia, spending the Christmas of 1864 
in Savannah ; then north through South 
and North Carolina, being in many engage- 
ments, until the sun-euder of Johnston and 
his army, when he continued his march 
via Richmond to Washington, where, after 
the grand review of the army, he with 
his regiment went to Louisville, Ky., 
where he was mustered out of service, after 
which, he went to Springfield, where he 
received his discharge in July, 1865, hav- 
ing served upward of three years in the 
Union army; he then returned to Coles 
Co., 111., and. in the spring of 1866, re- 
moved upon his present place, where he has 
since lived. He married A]iril, 1864, to 
Martha I. Hannah ; she was born in North 
Carolina in 1844, and died January, 1873. 
leaving three children now living, viz., 
James W., Lueinda E. and Roddie Ells- 
worth ; his marriage with Margaret M. 
Yeager was celebrated April 30, 1874; 
she was born in Ohio April 18, 1855; 
three children were the fruit of this union. 



one of which is deceased ; the living are 
Lula M., born Oct. 3, 1876, and John 
Sherman, March 14, 1878. 

A. A. DUNSETH, Police Magistrate 
and Justice of the Peace, Oakland ; born 
in Fleming Co., Ky., Oct. 12, 1821 ; he 
removed with his parents, when 6 years of 
age, to Ohio, where he learned and worked at 
the carpenter trade until 1843, when became 
West and located at Peoria, 111., wurkiug 
at his trade until 1852, when he removed 
to Georgetown, 111., where he kept hotel 
two years, when he purchased a saw-mill, 
which he ran in connection with his trade 
until 1858, when he removed to Danville, 
and engaged in contracting and building 
until 1861, when he raised a company for 
the 4th Illinois Cavalry, but the regiment 
having obtained its full quota of compa- 
nies, his company was not accepted, the 
members joining other companies to fill up 
the regiment; in 1862, he visited the Un- 
ion Hospitals at Louisville, Ky,, and find- 
ing a wide field for labor in the interest of 
the soldiers of Illinois, he decided to re- 
main there and labor in behalf of the same ; 
he immediately entered upon this noble duty, 
laboring for the relief of suffering patriots of 

; his State without compensation and defray- 
ing his own expenses for three months, 
when the hospital was visited by Dr. W. E. 
Fithian, J. L. Tincher and Judge Terry, of 
Danville; they atonce saw theamount ofgood 
being accomplished through the agency of 

i Mr. Dunseth, when they immediately de- 
manded of Gov. Yat(^s that Illinois should 
have a State Agent to look afler our suf- 
fering soldiers, and suggested Mr. Dun- 

j scth as a suitable person to fill the pusition. 
This was at once acted upon, and he re- 
ceived his commission as State Agent, dat- 
ing from the time he first came to the hos- 
pitals. He had never made application 
for the above position, and when he re- 
ceived his commissinn, it was much of a 
surprise to him. The writer of this 

I sketch has seen many letters to Mr. Dun- 
seth from prominent men, both in civil and 
military life, expressing thanks and grati- 
tude to him for the noble spirit he hai* 
shown in behalf of the soldiers of the 
Union army. At the close of the war, he 
returned to Danville and engaged in rail- 
road bridging in Illinois and the Southern 

1 States until 1872, when he removed to 
Oakland, where he has since lived. He mar- 



EAST OAKLAND TOWNSHIP. 



565 



ried Oct. 17, 1844, to Mary Burnside, i 
cousin of Gen. A. E. Burnside ; she was 
horn in Kentucky May 29, 1821 ; they 
are the parents of five children, now liv- 
ing, viz.. Sarah E., David W., Charles A., 
Alice M. and James H. Mr. Dunseth 
has always labored in behalf of Christian- 
ity and temperance : was a charter mem- \ 
ber of Lodge No. 2, Sons of Temperance, 
at Peoria, 111., and has been a brother 
Odd Fellow for the past thirty-four 
years. 

THOMAS H. DUNCAN; P.O.Oakland; 
born in Clark Co., 111., April 29, 1844, 
where he attended school and engaged in 
farming until August 1, 1862, when he ■ 
enlisted as private in Co. A (Capt. James 
B. Hill), of the 123d Regt. I. V. I., and 
went forward to battle for the Union ; he ', 
first went to Louisville, Ky., then march- i 
ing South, was engaged in the battle of 
Prairieville, Ky., Oct. 8, 1862, going then 
to Murfreesboro, Tenn., where he remained 
until May, 1863, when, on account of dis- 
ability, he received his discharge, and, re- 
turning home, engaged in farming for a 
short time ; then, after attending the West- 
field College one term, he engaged as clerk 
in the dry goods store of J. M. Miller, at 
Charleston, 111., which position he held for 
nearly two j'ears, when, on account of ill- 
health, he returned home, where he re- 
mained until the fall of 1868, when he 
entered the college at Eureka, 111., where, 
after attending one term, he worked as 
clerk in the stores of Kirkbride and Mar- 
cilleot, at Eureka, during the summer, and 
in the fall again entered the college, but 
on account of ill-health was unable to re- 
main but a short time. In early life, he 
had formed a determination to obtain a 
collegiate education, and his lack of means 
only tended to stimulate his energies in 
that direction, and to obtain the means to 
defray his expenses while attending col- 
lege, he employed all his time, Saturdays, 
mornings and evenings clerking ; this la- 
bor, added to his hard study, so imiiaired 
health that he was obliged to give up his 
long cherished hope of graduating from 
college ; he then returned home and re- 
mained during the winter, and the follow- 
ing spring was employed as clerk for Wil- 
son Bros., Charleston, 111., for six months, 
when he engaged dealing in pictures, chro- 
UKis, etc., until the following January, 



when he engaged in the sewing-machine 
business, which he followed until July 1, 
1873, when he purchased a stock of goods 
and located in Oakland, where he has since 
continued to live ; he was described to the 
writer as being the tallest man in Oakland,be- 
ing six feet five and one-half inches in height, 
and while in the army was known as little 
Tommy Duncan. His marriage wi^li lone 
B. Decker was celebrated Nov. 28, 1872; 
she was born in Coles Co., 111., March 17, 
1851 ; they have two children by this un- 
ion, viz., Gertrude Q. and Jacob L. Mrs. 
Duncan is the daughter of Jacob K. Deck- 
er, one of the early pioneers of Charles- 
ton, Coles Co., III. 

JOHN DOLLAR, farmer and stock- 
raiser; P. O.Oakland ; born in Perthshire, 
Scotland, July 1, 1807, where he engaged 
in farming until 83 years of age, when he 
emigrated to America, landing in New 
York in June, 1840, coming to Chicago 
via canal and lakes, where he hired a 
team to transport him to Coles Co., pay- 
ing for the same the sum of $40 ; arriving 
here in July, he located eighty acres of 
land on Section 2, in what is now known 
as East Oakland Tp., upon which he com- 
menced to make improvements, employing 
his spare time for several years in ditching 
for other parties ; he located upon his 
present place in 1849, which contains 263 
acres, and upon which he has a complete 
set of buildings which he has erected since 
that date ; he also iiwns 200 acres of land 
in other parts of the county, all of which 
he has secured by his own hard labor ; in 
the fall of 1842, he made two trips to 
Chicago, taking up wheat which he sold 
at 64 cents per bushel, receiving his pay 
in leather, salt and groceries ; the time 
consumed on each trip being eighteen days. 
Mr. Dollar, though in his 72d year, 
is in possession of all his faculties and 
daily attends to the feeding and care of 
his stock, of which he has 40 head of cat- 
tle, 7 horses, 100 hogs and 30 sheep. He 
married in Scotland in the spring of 1833, 
to Margaret Carmichael ; she was born in 
Perthshire, Scotland, and died April 23, 
1837, leaving one child, which died Aug. 
28, of the same year ; his marriage with 
Mrs. Sarah Curtis was celebrated April 8, 
1847 ; .she was the daughter of James D. 
Hunt, one of the early pioneers of Coles 
Co., and was born in Clark Co., Ohio, 



566 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



Aug. 19, 1822; they have four children 
now living by this union, viz., Margaret 
J., Nancy Isabel, Sarah A. and Ralph D. 
Mr. Dollar has always taken a deep inter- 
est in the cause of religion and education, 
having been a member of the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church for upward of thirty 
years ; he was a strong Unionist during 
the late war, and in January, 1865, his 
house was visited by a band of despera- 
does in the night, and with the revolvers 
of five blackened villains presented to him- 
self and family, they demanded his money, 
of which they obtained upward of $600 
and made away with their spoils ; four of 
the five were afterward captured and 
lodged in the Jail at Charleston, but broke 
jail and all escaped the penalty of their 
crimes. Mr. Dollar lost his father by 
death in September, 1840; his mother 
died in 1846. 

N. R. DUER. farmer and school-teach- 
er ; P. O. Oakland ; born in Fairfield Co., 
Ohio, May 13, 1832, where he attended 
scho'il and engaged in farming until he at- 
tained his majority, when he engaged in 
school-teaching one year ; he then entered 
the Ohio Wesleyan University, located at 
Delaware, which he attended for upward 
of two y(!ars ; lie then engaged in farming 
and school-teaching in Ohio, until 1862, 
when he emigrated to Illinois and located 
in Clark Co., where he followed teaching 
and farming until 1 864, when he located 
in Coles Co., and engaged in teaching in 
Oakland one year, and one year in East 
Oakland Tj). ; he then returned to Clark 
Co., and for three years was employed in 
teaching in Clark and Cumberland Cos. ; 
he then engaged in the drug-trade, at 
Farmington, Coles Co., which business he 
followed until the fall of 1875, when lu^ 
engaged in drug trade at Oakland, with 
N. R. Moore, und(!r the firm name of 
Duer & Moore, which business continued 
until March, 1878, when he sold his inter- 
est and agaih resumed farming and school- 
teaching. He married, Aug. 14, 1861, to 
Jane Elder : she was born in Ohio July 
10, 18:!8; died Oct. 5, 1862, leaving no 
children ; his marriage with Celia E. Fer- 
guson w;ui celebrated July 21. 1863 ; she 
was born in (/lark Co. April 15, 1842; 
they have four children now living by this 
union, viz., Jane, Charles S., Alice May 
and .'Vnielia (J. 



HUGH DAUGHERTY, farmer; P.O. 

Oakland ; born in Coles Co., 111., Jan. 25, 
1830, in which county he has always lived ; 
he is the son of John Daugherty, one of 
the earliest pioneers of Illinois, who emi- 
grated from North Carolina and located in 
Illinois about the year 1828 ; he died 
about the year 1860, in East Oakland Tp., 
Coles Co. ; the subject of this sketch, as- 
sisted his father farming until 17 years of 
age, when he was employed as farm laborer 
for two years, when he commenced fiirm- 
ing, renting for a period of five years, 
when he purchased forty acres, since which 
time he has farmed his own land ; he now 
owns eighty-seven acres on See. 29 ; when 
he first commenced farming, his capital con- 
sisted of one horse and two cows, and he 
was in debt about $200 ; his first tax was 
50 cents. He married, March 27, 1851, 
to Matilda Hite ; she was born in Ohio 
Oct. 6, 1823 ; she died Jan 2, 1872, 
leaving five children, now living — Sarah 
A., Andrew, John M., Mahalia and Ellen ; 
his marriage with Martha E. Burtim was 
celebrated Dec. 12, 1872 ; she was born 
in Fountain Co., Ind., March 20, 1847 ; 
they have three children now living — 
Hugh P., Samuel Wesley and James 
Calvin. 

JAMES T. EDSON, Oakland, pur- 
chasing agent for Illinois of Wm. B. Dick- 
son & Co., Indianapolis, Ind. ; born in 
Iredell Co., N. C, Jan. 15, 1841 ; his 
parents removed to Ohio when he was 
([uite young, where he attended school 
during the winter, and worked upon the farm 
during the summer, until 1861, when he 
enlisted in the 14th Ohio V. I. for three 
months, after which he enlisted for three 
years in the 38th Ohio V. I., where he 
served nearly three years, when he re- 
enlisted in the 3Sth Ohio Veteran Regi- 
ment, in which he served during the war ; 
he took part in nearly all the severe battles 
in which the 14th Army Corps was en- 
gaged, among which were Mill Springs, 
Stone River, Perryville, Chickamauga, 
Missionary Ridge and many others, and 
was with Sherman's army in his march to 
the sea ; he was mustered out with liis 
regiment in July, ISlio, at Louisville, Ky., 
when he engaged in faraiitig in Ohio sev- 
eral years, until 1871, when he located in 
Oakland, and engaged in baying and ship- 
ping lumber to Indianapolis, which busi- 



EAST OAKLAND TOWNSHIP. 



567 



nesf he has since successfully followed. 
His marriage with Cordelia Hickox was 
celebrated Jan. 25, 1876; she was born 
in Oakland, Coles Co., May 29, 1850; her 
parents were among the early settlers of 
Illinois, locating- in Edgar Co., in 1833. 

GEO. GEYEK, farmer; P.O.Kansas; 
born in Muskingum Co., Ohio. May 8, 
1832, where he followed farming until 
1857, when he removed to East Oakland 
Tp., Coles Co., 111., and located upon the 
old Donica farm, where he commenced 
farming with a capital of $25 cash and a 
team only partly ]iaid for ; he immediately 
went to work making improvements, 
which he continued until January, 1863, 
when he sold his improvements for $500, 
and purchased his present jiiace, where he 
has since lived ; his first purchase upon his 
present place was for 1 1 1 acres, upon 
which he made a payment of $500, leaving 
a balance of SI, 720, to be made in pay- 
ments, which he met promptly ; he has 
since added to the same until his home 
farm now contains 200 acres, upon which 
he has erected as fine farm-buildiogs as 
any in the township ; he also owns about 
ten acres of timber. He married Jan. 5, 
1854, to Mary E. Roberts; she was born 
in Muskingum Co., Ohio, Jan. 19, 1833; 
she is the daughter of Thomas Roberts, 
now living in East Oakland Tp.; they have 
five children now living, having lost four 
by death. The names of the living are 
Maranda C, Emma R., Elizabeth I. A., 
Arietta A. and William F. 

PETER GOBERT farmer, and stock - 
raiser, S. 19; P. 0. Oakland ; one of the pio- 
neers of Coles Co.; born in France Oct. 17, 
1821, where he attended school until 11 
years of age, when he emigrated with his par- 
ents to America, landing in New York the 
spring of 1832 ; going to Buffalo, he assisted 
his father upon a farm until 10 years of age, 
when he emigrated West in the spring, 
coming by way of the lakes to Chicago, 
arriving there June 11, 1837; coming 
directly to Coles Co., they located in what 
is now known as Ea.st Oakland Tp., before 
the organization of the same; here he en- 
gaged with his father farming until 1860, 
when his father retired from active labor, 
and Mr. Gobert assumed the management 
of the farm ; he owns his brick residence, 
with good stables and other buildings, and 
upward of 400 arres of land, all under 



cultivation except twenty- five acres of tim- 
ber. He married, June 8, 1843, Melinda 
R. Ashmore ; she was born in Kentucky 
March 22, 1824; she died Feb. 21, 1861, 
leaving five children now living, viz., 
Samuel, Charles, Louis, La Fayelte, Vir- 
ginia. His marriage with Matilda A. 
Roberts was celebrated Oct. 17, 1861 ; 
she was born in Ohio, June 26, 1835; 
they have four children now living by this 
union, viz., Alice, Thomas, Napoleon, 
Frank. Mr. Gobert drove an ox team 
from here to Chicago in 1842, taking up 
apples and bring back groceries. In 1844, 
he drove his team to St. Louis, Mo., loaded 
with chickens and turkeys — the chickens 
selling at 75 cents and the turkeys at $3 
per dozen. 

SOLOMON HENDRIX, stock dealer; 
P. O. Oakland; born in Champaign Co., 
Ohio, May 13, 1820, where he attended 
school during his youth until large enough 
to labor upon a farm, when he followed 
farming for his father until he attained his 
majority, wheu, in 1842, he located upon 
a farm of eighty-six acres, all heavy tim- 
ber, where he lived seven years and suc- 
ceeded in clearing and placing under culti- 
vation upward of sixty acres, the first year 
by hard labor he raised eight acres of corn 
and potatoes enough for his family use 
during the winter. In the summer of 
1850, he came to Illinois, but not finding 
a location to suit, he returned to Ohio, and 
purchased a farm of 160 acres, which he 
worked for three years, clearing off upward 
of seventy acres of timber, when he sold his 
farm and purchased the old homestead, 
living there until 1857, when he emigrated 
West and located in Edgar Co., purchas- 
ing 320 acres of land six miles north of 
Paris,- where he lived until the spring of 
1861, when, selling his farm, he engaged in 
stock raising and feeding and selling, con- 
fining his business mostly to sheep, which 
business he followed until 1866; at the 
above date he located in East Oakland Tp., 
and engaged in farming and dealing in 
stock, which business he followed for a 
period of eleven years, when he removed 
with his family to Oakland, where he has 
since continued to live. He owns his resi- 
dence, and is interested in about 200 
acres of well-improved and timber land. 
He married June 19, 1842, to Nancy G. 
Wilson ; she was born in Pennsylvania in 



568 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



1823; died March 5, 1866, leaving seven 
children, viz., William T., Mary E., Lucy 
E., Charles, John E., Joseph and Alice M. 
His marriage with Melviua Berry was 
celebrated Dec. 11, 1866; she was born in 
Clark Co., 111., May 14, 1834; they have 
one child by this union — Raymond Hen- 
drix. Mrs. Hendrix's father and mother 
are among the early settlers of Clark Co., 
locating there at a very early date, about 
1829 or 1830 ; she has one child by her 
previous husband — iVmelia Berry. 

WILLIAM HUNT, farmer and Jus- 
tice of the Peace, Oakland ; born in Coles 
Co., 111., Feb. 11, 1845, upon the place 
where he has since continued to live ; he 
is the son of James D. Hunt, who located 
in Coles Co., previous to 1838, where he 
died July 3, 1856 ; the subject of this 
sketch continued upon the old homestead, 
and attended school and assisted in farm- 
ing, until the decease of his mother, which 
occurred July 3, 1865 ; after which he 
purchased the interest of a portion of 
the other heirs, and continued farm- 
ing upon the old plaQ,e upon his own 
account, which business he has since 
successfully followed; he owns 110 
acres upon his home farm, upon which 
he has erected good farm-buildings. He 
was elected to the office of Justice of the 
Peace in the spring of 1877, for a term of 
four years, which office he now holds. He 
married March 3, 1864, to Susan E. 
Hundley ; she was born in Clark Co., 111., 
Aug. 22, 1848 ; her parents were among 
the early pioneers of Illinois ; they have 
five children now living by this union- 
Justin H., born Feb. 11, 1867, Ruth T., 
born Sept. 24, 1872, Luvice E., born July 
2, 1874, Sherman W., born June 10, 1876 ; 
Alvira L., born Oct. 2. 1877. 

MERRILL F. HACKETT, retired 
farmer ; P. 0. Oakland ; born in Lexington, 
Fayette Co., Ky., Sept. 10, 1821 ; he re- 
moved with his parents, when 8 years of 
age, and located in Springfield, Sangamon 
Co., 111., where he learned and worked at the 
trade of briekmason until 1841, at which 
time he removed to Charleston, Coles Co., 
and engaged at his trade and farming and 
stock-rai.sing until 1856; he then removed 
to the northern part of Coles Co., where 
he followed farming and stock-raising un- 
til 1875, when he ])urcha.scd his present 
place of about thirty acres, u]ion which he 



has a fine residence, and removed to Oak - 
land, where he has since continued to live ; 
he also owns 613 acres of land in Douglas 
Co., which he has rented. He married 
Jan. 22, 1867, Elizabeth J. Sargent; she 
was born in Coles Co., 111., March 22, 
1839 ; her parents were among the early 
pioneers of Coles Co., locating in 1830 ; 
they have four children by this union — 
Snowden S., Gennella C, Lora E. and 
Florence M. 

WILLIAM HOLLIS, retired farmer ; 
P. 0. Oakland; born in Essex Co., Del., 
Jan. 18, 1800, where he engaged in farm- 
ing until 25 years of age, when he emi- 
grated West, and located in Pickaway Co., 
Ohio, and engaged in farming until 1845, 
when he came to Illinois and located in 
lidgar Co., where he followed farming for 
a period of thirty years; in 1875, he pur- 
chased his present residence in Oakland, 
where he has since lived, with the excep- 
tion of a short time, which he lived upon 
his farm ; he also owns a farm of 160 acres, 
upon which are good buildings, the same 
being now managed by his son George. 
His marriage with Elizabeth Lane was cele- 
brated April 28, 1825 ; she was born in 
Essex Co., Del, Aug. 28, 1800; they 
have five children now living, having lust 
the same number by death ; the names of 
the living are George, Catharine, Henry, 
Erastus and Mary Ann. Mr. and Mrs. Hol- 
lis are the oldest couple now living in Oak- 
land, Mr. H. being 79 years of age and 
Mrs. H. lacking but a few months of the 
same age ; their marriage was celebrated 
fifty-four years ago. 

GEORGE F. HACKETT, farmer, S. 
18; P. 0. Oakland; born in Scott 
Co., Ky., Aug. 27, 1827; he emi- 
grated with his parents, in the fall 
of 1834, to Illinois, and located in 
Coles Co., where he attended sch<iol during 
the winter, and a.ssisted his father farming 
during the summer, until 18 years of age, 
when he worked by the month during the 
summer driving cattle from Coles Co. to 
Wisconsin, and attending school during 
the winter for four years ; in 1850, he 
he drove an ox-team, overland, to Califor- 
nia, going via the old Oregon route, by 
Fort Hall, arriving in Wearville, Aug. 
26, of tlu' same year, being on the road 
six months and twelve days, leaving St. Joe, 
Mo., May 14 ; he traveled 2,200 miles 



EAST OAKLAND TOWNSHIP. 



569 



without seeing a house or habitation, save 
three forts, which were occupied by United 
States soldiers ; he then went directly tn 
the mines, where he followed mining, 
meetinu' with fair success, for two and a 
half years ; when he came home, by steam- 
er, via New York, arriving at Oakland, 
April 16, 185.3, having -been gone for up- 
ward of three years ; he then engaged in 
farming five miles from Oakland, which he 
followed until 1858, when he purchased 
his present place, where he has since lived 
for a period of upward of twenty years. 
He married March 9, 1854, to Edna Pem- 
berton ; she was born in Virginia Feb. 8, 
1826 ; they have four children now living- 
Fred S., Anzonett M., William E. and 
George W. Mrs. Haeketl is the youngest 
daughter of Stanton Pemberton, one of the 
pioneers of Coles Co., locating here in 1831. 

L. M. HUDSON, farmer, Sec. 29 ; P. 
O. Oakland; born in Carter Co., Tenn., 
Sept. 5, 1809, where he engaged in farm- 
ing until 24 years of age, when he re- 
moved to Jessamine Co., Ky., where he 
engaged in firming until 18.51, when he 
removed to East Oakland Tp., Coles Co., 
III., and purchased 200 acres, upon which 
he has since continued to live, during a 
period of twenty-eight years ; he has since 
added by purchase until he now owns 320 
acres, upon which he has good buildings 
erected by himself; at the time of his locat- 
ing here, corn was worth but six cents per 
bushel and pork $2 per hundred. He 
was married Oct. 23, 1833, to Sophia 
Rader ; she was born in Virginia July 22, 
1808 ; she died Feb. 13, 1866, leaving five 
children now living — Lemuel, Minervia, 
Jesse, John and Mary Jane. His mar- 
riage with Delilah J. Rutherford was cele- 
brated Sept. 15,1866; she was born in 
Dubois Co., Ind., Dec. 6, 1836; they 
have no children by this union. Mr. 
Hudson has filled the office of School 
Director four years in his district, and Road 
Commissioner the same length of time. 

WM. HENDERSON, blacksmith. Oak- 
land; born in Gurnsey f"o.,Ohio, Sept 25, 
1831, where he learned and worked at the 
blacksmith trade until the fall of 1858, 
when he emigrated West and located, in 
Lawrence Co., 111., where he followed his 
trade until 1862, when he enlisted as a 
private in the 60th I. V. I., and went for- 
ward to battle for the Union ; he served 



with his regiment one year, when he was 
detailed as blacksmith in the Quartermas- 
ter's Department at Chattanooga, Tenn., 
where he remained until the fall of 1865, 
when he returned and worked at his trade 
at Marion, III., and Terre Haute, Ind., 
until August, 1866, when he located in 
Charleston and worked at his trade until 
June, 1872, when he removed to Oakland, 
where he has since lived. He is President 
of the National Christian Temperance 
Union, and is held in high esteem for the 
noble stand he has taken in the cause of 
temperance ; he was elected Cli^irman of 
the Board of Trustees of Oakland at the 
last municipal election, which office he now 
holds. His marriage with Ellen Eaglan 
was celebrated March 27, 1871; she was 
born in Virginia June 2, 1835; they have 

, four children now livingby this union, viz., 
Francis, John, Edward and William. 

LEWIS KEES, merchant, Oakland; 
born in Preble Co., Ohio, April 10, 1843, 
where he attended school until 16 years of 
age, when he emigrated West and located 
in Embarrass Tp., Edgar Co., III., where he 
engaged in farming until July, 1862, 
when he enlisted in the 70th I. V. I. for 
three months; he was sent to Camp But- 
ler, Springfield, where he remained two 

' months guarding prisoners, then to Alton 
for two mouths performing the same 
duty ; he was in the service four months 
and was mustered out with his regiment in 
November, 1862. He then returned to his 
farm, which he worked until 1874, when 
he engaged in the grocery trade at Isabel 
one year, when his store and stock being 
consumed bv fire, he met with a loss of 
nearly $2,000, upim which he had no in- 
surance ; he then purchased a farm of 160 
acres, which he worked until May 1, 
1878, when he exchanged a portion of 
the same for a stock of goods at Oakland, 
since which time he has added largely to 
the same, until he now has a full and com- 
plete stock of dry goods, clothing, boots 
and shoes, hats and caps, notions, etc. ; his 
business card will be found in the business 
directory of Oakland, in another part of 
this work. He married Aug. 29, 1863, 
Mary Ann Housel ; she was born in Edgar 
Co. Sept. 20, 1845; her parents were 
among the early ])ioneers of Edgar Co.; 
she died Jan. 28, 1868, leaving one child, 
^Sarah J., born July 4, 1865. 



570 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



R: F. LARIMER, merchant, Oakland; 
born in Scioto Co., Ohio, Oct. 27, 1838, 
where he engaged in farming \nitil l(i 
years of age, when, coming West, he located 
in Embarrass Tp., Edgar Co., 111., and 
engaged in farming until 1856, when he 
went to Kansas for six months ; returning 
to Edgar Co., he purchased one-half inter- 
est in a saw and flour mill, which he ran 
until Sept. 10, 1861, when he enlisted as 
private for three years in the 66th I. V. I.; 
this regiment was composed of picked men 
from the various Northwestern States, for 
their skill and accuracy in handling the 
rifle ; while this regiment was credited to 
Illinois, it was known in the army as the 
Western Sharpshooters; in the marches 
they always ltd the advance, and when 
engaged in battle, were detailed in squads 
to pick ofl' rebel gunners, and many a rebel 
battery has been silenced by the unerring 
aim of this regiment; he was in many se- 
vere battles, among which was Mt. Zion, 
Ft. Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Resaca, 
Lay's Ferry, where the regiment, being in 
the advance, fought its way for eight miles, 
the regiment suffering severely in killed 
and wounded ; he was next engaged at 
Rome Cross Roads, Dallas, Kenesaw 
Mountain, at which place among the 
killed was a younger brother ; he was with 
the army during the siege and capture of 
Atlanta, after which, having served one 
month above his term of enlistment, he was 
mustered out of service ; he then returned 
to Edgar Co., 111., where he bought a saw 
and flour mill, which he ran until 1868, 
when, selling his mill, he punthased one- 
half interest in a sawmill near Charleston, 
which he ran until ISVl!, when he sold out 
and located at Oakland in the druir trade, 
which he followed until I87<i ; in 1877, he 
engaged in his present business, which he 
has since successfully followed. While 
looking after the wounded at the battle of 
Corinth, he was made prisoner by a squad 
of six rebels, and, while they were taking 
him to their camp, a squad of union calvary 
came upon them and captured his captors, 
taking tfiem back to the Union camp. 

JOHN R.LAWSON, lumber and build- 
ing materials, Oakland ;born in Portsmoutli, 
Scioto Co., Ohio, .lune 3, 1847, where he 
attended school constantly until 21 years 
of age, the last five years at the Ports- 
mouth Normal School ; at the above age, | 



he engaged in book-keeping for the Ports- 
mouth Foundry Co., which position he 
filled for two years; then, in 1871, he 
came West and engaged in book-keej)ing 
for Lawson & Burt, at Tuscola, Douglas 
Co., for two years, at the expiration of 
which time, he came to Oakland, Coles 
Co., and engaged in the lumber trade, 
dealing in lumber of all kinds, paints, coal, 
lime, cement, plaster, sash, doors and 
blinds, etc., etc. His marriage with Alice 
M. Cash was celebrated April 16, 1874; 
she was born in Oakland Dec. 31, 1854; 
she was the daughter of S. M. Cash, one 
of the pioneer merchants of Oakland, Coles 
Co., 111. Mr. Lawson holds the office ot 
Town Trustee. 

WM. LAND, farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. 
Oakland ; born in Cumberland Co., 111., 
Jan. 19, 1839 ; at 7 years of age, his par- 
ents both died, their death occurring 
within a period of four days; at their 
decease, he came to Coles Co., 111., and, 
until 15 years of age, worked at different 
places for his living ; when he worked for 
three years by the month ; then rented 
land, and engaged in farming for himself 
for about four years, in Ashmore Tp., and 
in 1862, enlisted in the l-3d regiment, 
I. V. I., in which he served his country 
until he received his dii-charge in May, 
1865, a large part of which time he was 
detailed to do post duty, the liist two years 
being at Nashville, Tenn. ; after his dis- 
charge, he went to Missouri, where he re- 
mained one winter, when he returned to 
Coles Co., 111., and, again renting land, 
continued farming until 1876, when he 
purcha.sed his present place of eighty 
acres, upon which he removed, and where 
he has since lived. He married in Sep- 
tember, 1859, to Emily Sublette ; she died 
December. 1865, leaving two children, viz. 
— Peter B. and Lucinda. His marriage 
with Lucinda Milner was celebrated Sept. 
22. 1868 ; she was born in Vermiliou 
Co., 111., Dec. 17, 1843; they have three 
children now living by this union, viz., 
Rebecca A., born Dec. 5, 1869 ; Malinda 
M., Dec. 19, 1870; Charles W., June 23, 
1878, and one deceased. 

THOMAS J. MOCK, farmer and Con- 
stable, Sec. 25 ; P. 0. Oakland ; born in 
Hocking Co., Ohio, March 22, 1845, 
where lie lived until 1854, when he re- 
moved with his parents to Coles Co., 111., 



EAST OAKLAND TOWNSHIP. 



571 



where he lived until Aug. 1, 1862, whi.n 
he eulisted at the age of 17 years in Co. 
A. 123d I. V. I., and at once went into 
camp at Mattoon, where thej- remained 
until Sept. 6, when they were mustered in 
and at once sent to the front, going to 
Louisville, they joined the army of Gen. 
Buell, which had been defeated and driven 
ttp that point by the army under the rebel 
Gen. Bragg; marching South, he was en- 
gaged in the battle of Perryville Oct. 8 ; 
then to Mumfordsville, where, being pros- 
trated by sickness, he was sent to the 
hospital at Louisville, remaining four 
weeks, at which time, Morgan having got 
in the rear of the Union army, he volun- 
teered in a convalescent regiment, and went 
out guarding bridges, etc. ; returning to 
Louisville, he was forwarded to his regi- 
ment at Murfreesboro, Tenn., where he 
arrived January, 1863, and performed 
scout duty until spring, being in. many 
severe engagements ; they were then 
formed into a cavalry regiment, armed with 
Spencer seven-shooter rifles, and attached 
to VVilder's Brigade, which was afterward 
noted for the good fighting (jualities, 
daring and courage of its officers and men, 
being nearly always in advance upon any 
important engagements of the Army of the 
Tennessee ; in the spring, they led the ad- 
vance in the two-days fight at Hoover's 
(rap, where, after getting the rebels fairly 
engaged, made their way to the rear of the 
rebel army, and, after cutting off their 
supplies and communications and destroy- 
ing their railroad depots and cars and tear- 
ing up the railroad, etc., returned to help 
the Union army to win the battle ; they 
then went across the mountains to Chat- 
tanooga, where they were engaged fiirnine- 
t.een days skirmishing with the rebels, 
previous to the arrival of the balance of 
the L^nion army, and upon its arrival, the 
above place was captured without a battle ; 
following this, was the battle of Chick- 
amauga, in which the brigade suft'ered 
severely in killed, wounded and prisoners, 
and, after the defeat, covered the retreat 
of the Union army to Chattanooga; Mr. 
Mock expressed himself to the writer as its 
being the first time he had even un- 
consciously been whipped ; they were then 
placed on duty guarding fords, etc. ; while 
performing this duty, the rebel Gen. 
'Wheeler crossed above them to destroy 



their communications, when they followed 
them for two weeks, fighting continually, 
and, upon reaching Farmington, had a 
severe fight, in which his regiment sufl'ered 
severely in killed and wounded, among the 
former being their Colonel ; after this, he 
went to Ma3-sville, Ala., where his regi- 
ment was detailed in squads as scouts, 
which duty he performed until the close of 
the war ; he expressed him.self as being 
pleased with this arduous and dangerous 
: duty, preferring it to the monotony of camp 
, life ; after being engaged in the seige and 
capture of Atlanta, their horses " were 
i turned over to Kilpatriik, and they went 
to Louisville, drew fresh horses, and, early 
in the winter of 1864, went to Graverly 
Springs, Ala., where they were organized 
in a corps of cavalry under Gen. Wilson ; 
going South, skirmishing daily, untif 
reaching Selnia, at which place, after the 
4th United States Reaulars had made a 
; charge and been driven back, this brigade 
were dismounted and made the charge, 
when, after .severe fighting, they captured 
the fortifications, in which they suffered se- 
verely, some of their men being killed upon 
the breastworks; they continued south 
until reaching Macon, which place they 
captured ; when hearing of the surrender 
of Johnson and his army, he was detailed 
in command of a force and sent out to- 
capture Jeff Davis, traveling day and night 
for four days ; he heard of the capture of 
; the rebel chief when within less than 
I thirty miles of his camp ; he then returned 
to Macon, where he was again detailed 
with one other to learn the location of a 
band of rebels, who were collecting horses, 
mules, wagons and other articles to take 
further south ; he made their camp, took 
supper with them, and, after satisfying 
them he was no spy by his papers as 
paroled prisoner of a rebel guerrilla force, 
he made his way back to camp, and at 
daylight the whole force was captured ; he 
was mustered out of service at Nashville, 
Tenn., and received his discharge at Spring- 
field, 111., July 10, 1865, having been in- 
the Union army nearly three years ; re- 
turning home, when he followed farming 
until 1867, when he again engaged in the 
United States service, going with the army 
through some of the Western Territorie* 
as far as Ft. Union, New Mexico, having 
charge of Government stores. He re- 



572 



BIuGRAPHICAL SKETOHES: 



moved upon his present place in 1871, 
where he has since continued to live, with 
the exception of a few months' prospecting 
in Nebraska during the year of 1873. 
He married Dec. 1, 1868, Nancy J. Dol- 
lar; shewa.« born in Coles Co., 111., March 
31, 1850; they have three children now 
living by this union — John T., Sarah R. 
and Ralph ; Mrs. Mock is a daughter of 
John Dollar, whose biography appears in 
this work, is one of the settlers of Coles 
•Co. 

NALLIE R. MOORE, draggist, Oak- 
land;' born in Morgan Co., Ind.. Aug. 4, 
1854, where he attended school until 11 
years of age, when he removed to Mat- 
toon, Coles Co., 111., where he attended 
school until 20 years of age, the last three 
years devoting his time to the study of 
geometry, physiology, and the other high- 
er branches of education ; having devoted 
his spare time when out of school for the 
last eight years in his father's drug store, 
he now engaged in the same, where he was 
employed, compounding drugs, preparing 
prescriptions, etc , until May, 1876, when 
he associated with X. R. Duer, and en- 
gaged in the drug business at Oakland, un- 
der the firm name of Duer & Moore, con- 
tinuing the same until March, 1S78, when 
he bought his partner's interest and asso- 
ciated with his father, which business he 
has since continued under the firm name 
of C. M(rore iV Son ; having been thor- 
oughly educated in the drug trade, parties 
having prescriptions to be filled, may foel ' 
assured that the same, when prepared by 
Mr. Moore, will be put up by a competent 
and careful druggist. A card of his busi- 
ness will be found in the business directory 
of Oakland in another part of this work. 

GIDEON MINOR, farmer; 1'. O. Oak- 
land; born in Brown Co., Ohio, Aug. 16, 
1818; he emigiatid with his parents to 
Kentucky at 4 years of age, where he at- , 
tended school and (mgaged in farming un- 
til 14 years of age. when he emi'rratpd to 
East Oakland Tp'., Coles Co., in May, 1832; 
his father purchiused 120 acres of land in 
the timber, and after ck'aring the timber 
during the summer, died in the following 
fall ; the duty of nianaginsr the farm then 
fell upon the subject of this sketch, who 
worked it until 1844, when his mother 
disposed of the above and purchased 
■eighty acres of prairie, and the following 



year her decease occurred ; Mr. Minor 
purchased his present place in the sprina: 
of 1864, which contains 160 acres, and 
where he has since lived. His marriage 
with Nancy Powers was celebrated Nov. 
25, 1847; she was born in Butler Co.. 
Ohio, Aug. 30, 1830; she was the daugh- 
ter of D. B. Powers, one of the early set- 
tlers of this county, and whose biography 
appears in this work ; they have one child 
by this union — George A. Minor, born 
April 3, 1849. Mr. Minor has held va- 
rious township offices, and at present holds 
the office of Township Collector. 

W. J. PEAK, physician, surgeon and 
druggist, Oakland; born in Warsaw, Gal- 
latin Co., Ky., April 3, 1836, where he 
devoted his whole attention to his studies 
until he attained his majority, the last four 
years exclusively to the study of medicine, 
graduating from the St. Louis Medical 
College in the winter of 1860; he imme- 
diately commenced the practice of medi- 
cine at Warsaw, Ky., for a short time, 
when, in the spring of 1861, he located in 
Johnson Co., Mo.; during the summer, 
and in the fall of the same year, he went 
to Texas, where he was placed, from force 
of circumstances, in charge of the rebel 
hospitals at Ozark and St. Francisville. 
Ark., where he remained until the spring 
of 1862, when he w;is appointed Assistant 
Surgeon in the Union hospitals at Fayette- 
ville, Ark., where he remained one year, 
when he received the appointment of Sur- 
geon of the 14th Regiment, Kansas Cav- 
alry, which position he held until the 
close of the war, being mustered out of 
the service at Lawrence, Kan., in the sum- 
mer of 1865; he then returned to Johnson 
Co., Mo., where he remained a .short time, 
when he removed to Coles Co., 111., and 
located in Morgan Tp. in the winter of 
1866. where he followed his profession until 
1876, when he removed to Oakland, and 
engaged in the drug trade, still giving his 
whole time and attention to his very ex- 
tensive practice which he has built up in this 
and adjoining counties, his drug store be- 
ing in charge of a very careful druggist. 
His marriage with Mary Burr was cele- 
brated Dec. 2, 1869 ; she was born in Mo- 
mence, Kankakee Co.. 111., Aug. 6, 1852; 
they have one child by this union — Maud, 
born Nov. 19, 1871. Mr. I'eakc has tak- 
en a deep interest in the cause of eduua- 



EAST OAKLAND TOWNSHIP. 



573 



tion. having filled the office of School Di- 
rector for several terms ; contributes lib- 
erally to the churches, and is a member of 
the Wabash Valley Esculapian Society. 

WILLIAM PARKER, deceased farm- 
er ; born in Staffordshire, England, 1802, 
where he engaged in farming until 1835, 
when he emigrated to America with his 
wife, landing in New York Feb. 2, of the 
same year, coming directly West ; they lo- 
cated upon a farm four miles from Cincin- 
nati, Ohio, where they followed farming 
until 1840, at which date they removed to 
Edgar Co., 111., where they engaged in 
farming until 1855, when, on account of 
ill-health, Mr. Parker retired from active 
labor, and, selling his farm, removed to 
Oakland, III., where he lived until his 
death, which occurred in the fall of 1862. 
Their marriage was celebrated Nov. 17, 
1834; Mrs. Parker's maiden name was 
Hannah Huslow ; she was born in Staf- 
fordshire, England, May 1, 1814; she 
still lives in the brick house built by her 
husband, and occupied by them during his 
life. Mrs. Parker was quite well acquainted 
with President Harrison, he having dined 
with them upon several occasions previous to 
his election to the highest office of the nation. 

WILLIAM R. PARKER, deceased 
farmer ; born in Anderson Co., Ky., March 
27. 1823; he emigrated with his parents 
to Illinois, and located in Edgar Co., in 
1828, where he lived until 18 years of age, 
when he went to St. Clair, Co., III., and 
engaged in farming two years, then to 
Minnesota, where he followed logging, 
rafting and milling for three years ; return- 
ing to Illinois, he, with his brother, worked 
at blacksmithing oue year, when, in 1848, 
he engaged in farming in Edgar Co., 
which business he followed until 1854, 
when he removed to Coles Co., and rented 
land, which he worked until he purchased 
the old homestead, where he located in 
1865, and lived uutil his decease, which 
occurred Feb. 14, 1873, at which time he 
owned 165 acres, upon which he had good 
buildings, and which he had accumulated 
by his own hard labor, in which he was 
nobly assisted by his wife, who survives 
him, and who continues to live upon the 
old farm with the most of the family ; 
they have since added to the farm, until 
it now contains about two hundred and 
forty acres ot prairie and timber land. 



He married July 15, 1848, to Rebecca 
Clark ; she was born in Kentucky Sept. 3, 
1822 ; she emigrated with her parents and 
located in Coles Co. in 1828; they have 
seven children now living by this union — 
Francis M., Harvey B., John F., George 
W., Narcissa R., Charles J. and Mollie 
L. Mrs. Parker remembers vividly when 
coming to Illinois ; upon arriving at Grand 
View, the joy of the settlers at that point, 
was so great at the arrival of Mr. Parker 
and family, that they turned out and es- 
corted them to where they first located, 
upon the farm which is now occupied by 
Mr. Thomas Roberts. 

J. J. PEMBERTON, retired merchant, 
Oakland ; one of the early pioneers of 
Coles Co. ; born in Washington Co., Va., 
Dec. 5, 1814, where he attended school in 
winter, and assisted his father farming in 
summer, until 17 years of age, when he 
emigrated West and located in East Oak- 
land Tp., Coles Co., 111., in 1831, in which 
township he has since lived, for a period of 
nearly half a century; from 1831 to 
1838, he was engaged in farming, when 
he removed to Oakland and engaged in 
hotel-ke?ping four years, at the expira- 
tion of which time he engaged in the gen- 
eral merchandise trade, at Oakland, which 
bu.siness he followed until 1875, when he 
retired from the above business, at which 
time he was elected Justice of the Peace, 
which office he now holds. He held the 
office of Postmaster at Oakland for several 
years ; he was appointed assistant revenue 
officer for this district under the adminis- 
tration of President Lincoln, the position 
at the time being attended with much 
danger, from the feeling manifested in 
some localities to resist the execution of 
the law taxing incomes ; his friends, who 
were numerous, often cautioned and tried 
to dissuade him from attempting to exe- 
cute the law in localities where the worst 
element prevailed, but he knew no fear 
where duty called him, and performed the 
same fearlessly until the expiration of his 
term. He owns his residence, office and six 
acres of land in Oakland, with a large 
.store, which is rented, also 500 acres of 
land under fence, and nearly all of which 
is under a high state of cultivation. His 
marriage with Clarinda Davis was cele- 
brated April 8, 1838; she was born near 
Norfolk, Va., Jan. 9, 1816. 



674 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



H. A. PEMBERTON. farmer, Sec. 
18 ; P. 0. Oakland ; one of the pioneers of 
Coles' County; born in Washington Co.,Va., 
Aug. 22, 1822; he emigrated with his 
parents when (|uito young, and located in 
Coles Co., 111., in November 1831, upon the 
place where he has since lived during the 
a period of nearly half a century ; he is 
the youngest son of Stanton and Sarah 
Pemberton ; his father died in 1838 ; 
Bsven years after his settlement here, and 
his mother died in 1850 ; after the 
death of his father, he and an older brother 
managed the place until 18G0; at which 
time his brother died without family, and 
Mr. P. became possessor of the old home- 
stead where he now lives. He owns 240 
acres of land mostly under a good state of 
cultivation, which he has assisted to re- 
claim from its wild prairie c<indition. He 
married Nov. 14, 1850, to Elizabeth Hicks ; 
she was born in Indiana June 21, 1830. 
They have three children by this union — 
Sally S., Jackson J., Stanton C ; Mr. Pem- 
berton has been School Director for upward 
of thirty years, and has held the office of 
Road Commissioner for the last three 
years in the Township in which he lives. 

JAMES H. PIERSON, farmer and 
stock-raiser; P. O. Oakland; born in 
Warren Co., Ohio, April G, 1847, where 
he engaged in farming until Feb. 15, 1863. 
when, at the age of 15 years, he enlisted as 
private in Co. A, 12th Ohio V. I., and went 
forward to battle for the Union ; he was in 
many hard-fought battles, among which were 
South Mountain, Antietam, 2d Bull Run, 
Winchester, Cedar Creek. Lynchburg and 
was with the IGth Army Corps under Gen. 
Hunter in front of Richmond ; at the bat- 
tle of Winchester, he was wounded and 
sent to the hosjiital for two months; at the 
battle of South Mountain a ball pa.ssed 
through his blouse ; at the battle of Lynch- 
burg, a shot .struck and carried away his 
canteen ; while scaling a stone wall upon 
the retreat of the Union army at the bat- 
tle of Winchester, a solid shot struck the 
wall beneath him, which demolished the 
wall, broke the stock of his gun into atoms, 
and stunned and bruised him badly by the 
falling stones ; a companion sei'ing this in- 
cident and supposing him killed, so re- 
ported to his folks, under which impression 
they labored until his return at the close 
of the war ; he was mustered out of service 



with his regiment in August, 1 865. at Cleve- 
land. Ohio. After remaining in Ohio a short 
time he emigrated to Edgar Co., 111.. 
where he arrived with a capital of 75 
cents ; he immediately commenced 
work in a saw-mill at SI. .5 per day, 
which business he followed for several 
years ; he removed upon his present place 
in 1870, where he owns 160 acres of land 
under cultivation; 116 head of cattle, up- 
ward of 100 hogs, 120 head of sheep, and 
18 head of horses and mules, which he has 
accumulated by hard labor, energy and 
industry, being nobly assisted by the aid 
of his wife, to whom he was married May 
18, 1870 ; her maiden name was Susan S. 
Brodie; she was born in Arena, Wis., Jan. 
6, 1848 ; they have four children now liv- 
ing by this union, viz., Ollie M., Flora B., 
Jackson and William S. ; at the time of 
his marriage, he had neither money to pro- 
cure the license nor defray the expense of 
the ceremony, the same being advanced 
by his employer, Mr. R. F. Larimer, a 
prominent merchant of Oakland, who has 
nobly rendered him a.ssistance at different 
times, and of whom he speaks in terms of 
the highest praise. 

DA NIEL B. POWERS, retired farmer ; 
P. 0. Oakland ; one of the early pioneers 
of Coles Co; born in Butler Co., Ohio. 
July 1, 1807, where he engaged in flirm- 
ing until 1836, when he emigrated West 
and located in Crawfordsville, Ind., where 
he engaged in the mercantile trade tor 
about eighteen months, when he sold his 
interest in the store and removed to East 
Oakland Township in March, 1838, where 
he purchased 180 acres of laud, where he 
has since lived during a period of forty 
years ; he has upon his old farm upon which 
he lives, a fine brick residence, which he 
erected in 1846, making the brick himself 
upon his own farm. He married Sep- 
tember, 1828, to Maria Runnels; she was 
born in Butler Co., Ohio ; .she died .\pril 
17, 1861, leaving four children — Jonathan 
W., Nancy, John and Levi ; his marriage 
with Phoebe Bates was celebrated Aug. 
29, 1861 ; she was born in Ohio July 25, 
1817 ; Mr. Powers has held the office of 
Justice of the Peace four years, and Town 
Collector two years in the Township in 
which he lives. 

S. A. REEL, physician and surgeon, 
farmer, stock-raiser and dealer in stock, 



EAST OAKLAND TOWNSHIP. 



575 



Oakland ; born in Gibson Co., Ind.. May 
3, 1829, where he attended school and 
engaged in farming until 18 years of age, 
when he taught school and studied 
medicine for two years in Missouri and 
Arkansas, when he cut a raft of lumber, 
which he took down the Mississippi 
River to New Orleans, and, after dispos- 
ing of the same, he returned to Indiana, 
then to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he attended 
the Eclectic Medical School one term ; in 
the fall of 1852, he located in Pleasant 
Grove Tp., Coles Co., 111., where he re- 
mained until 1855, being engaged in mer- 
cantile trade and studying medicine ; 
he then engaged for two and a half 
years farming in Hickory and Okaw 
Tps. ; when selling out, he removed 
to Iowa, living there six months, when he 
returned to Cumberland Co., 111., where he 
engaged in the merchandise trade and 
milling for six months, then to Indiana, 
where he remained until August, 1861, 
when he enlisted as private in the 58th 
Ind. V. I., serving as private two months, 
when he was detailed as Steward in the 
Union hospitals until the following year, 
when, on account of ill-health, he received 
his discharge. He then located in Douglas 
Co., 111., in 1863, and has since successfully 
followed the practice of medicine ; he 
erected his fine residence in Oakland in 
1868; he also owns 2-^0 acres of land, a 
part of which lies within the corporation 
limits. He has taken a deep interest in 
political matters, first as an Old-Line 
Whig, supporting the Republican party 
from its organization until 187C, when he 
espoused the cause of the Greenback party, 
and, in 1878, received the nomination 
from the above party as representative to 
the State Legislature for the Thirty-second 
Illinois District and made the canvass, but 
was defeated. He married May 19, 1853, 
Eliza Adams ; she was born in Coles 
Co., 111., April 22,1836, her parents being 
among the early settlers, locating in 1830 ; 
they have five children by this union — 
John F., Kate Iowa, Lida, Lena Maud 
and William E. 

JOHN RUTHERFORD, Cashier of 
the Oakland National Bank, Oakland ; 
born in Oakland, Coles Co., 111., June 21, 
1844, where he engaged in farming and 
attending school until February, 1867, 
when he engaged in the dry goods trade 



with J. J. Pemberton, which business he 
followed until 1872; he was then em-' 
ployed as book-keeper for the banking firm 
of L. D. Carter & Co., which position he 
held until Aug. 1, 1874, at which time 
the National Bank of Oakland was formed 
and he was chosen Cashier, which position 
he has since held ; he was made a mem- 
ber of the Oakland Lodge, No. 219. A., 
F. & A. M., in 1869 ; was made a R. A. 
M. of Kansas Chapter, No. 125, in 1870; 
in 1871. he w;is made a Knight Templar 
and joined the Palestine Commandery, No. 
27, at Paris; he was the 1st Chancellor 
Commander of the Orion Lodge, No. 74, 
K. P., which was organized in 1874, and 
of which he was a charter member. 

D. A. RICE, station agent, telegraph 
operator and grain-dealer, Oakland ; born 
in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., April 4, 1847, 
where he lived until 9 years of age, when 
he removed with his parents to Pickaway 
Co., Ohio, where he commenced the study 
of telegraphy, living there three years ; 
then to New Lexington, where he lived 
two years, the last year, having charge of 
the telegraph office at that place ; he lived 
in Ohio and engaged in telegraphing until 
1870, when he removed to Illinois and 
located at Effingham, where he was en- 
gaged at telegraphing for a short time, 
when he changed to another station and 
was employed by that line for three years ; 
he then removed to Ohio, where he was 
engaged in telegraphing until 1876, when 
he came to Oakland and took charge of 
this office, which he has since operated. 
He was married July 12, 1868, to Alice 
J. Hughes ; she was born in Hamilton 
Co., Ohio, Jan. 6, 1852 ; they have two 
children now living by this union — Eva, 
born Dec. 9, 1870, and W^ilber, boru Jan. 
6, 1872. 

THOMAS ROBERTS, farmer; P O. 
Oakland; was born in Loudoun Co., Va., 
Oct. 12, 1802, where he lived and en- 
gaged in farming until 1830, when he 
emigrated to Muskingum Co., Ohio, and 
engaged in farming until 1860, at which 
date he removed to Illinois and located 
upon his present place in East Oakland Tp., 
Coles Co., where he has since lived and 
followed farming. He married Feb. 7, 
1828, to Alice Mock ; she was born in 
Virginia Nov. 8, 1808 ; they have nine 
children now living, having lost three by 



576 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



death ; the names of the living are Mary 
E. (dow Mrs. George Geyen, Matilda 
(now Mrs. Peter Gobert), William H., 
Caroline (pow Mrs. James W. Titus), 
Castaria (now Mr,«. Frank Taylor), Isaac 
N., Jane (now Mrs. F. M. Parker), John 
D. and Sherman W. ; the names of the 
deceased are Jacob, and two which died in 
infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have 
taken a deep interest in the cause of re- 
ligion, having been active members of the 
M. E. Church since 1833, for a period of 
forty-six years. Their married life extends 
over a oeriod of half a century. 

W. H. ROBERTS, former, Sec. 9, T. 
13, R. 14 W.; P. 0. Kansas ; born in Mus- 
kingum Co., Ohio, Oct. 17, 1840, where he 
followed farminguntil 20 yearsof age, when 
ho emigrated to Illinois with his parents, 
and located in East Oakland Tp., Coles Co., 
on Sec. 6, where his father, Thomas Rob- 
erts, now lives ; here he assisted his father 
farming until Aug. 8, 1862, when he etl- 
listed in the TUth I. V. I., and went for- 
ward to battle for the Union ; going to 
Louisville, Ky., he joined the army of 
Geu. Buell, who had been driven back by 
the rebel army under Gen. Bragg; moving 
south, his first severe engagement was at 
Stone River, where the regiment suffered 
severely in killed, wounded and prisoners, 
he being wounded and taken prisoner, but 
was paroled on the field and placed in the 
Union hospital for two months, then to ' 
the Louisville hospital seven weeks, when 
he was sent to his regiment, at Murfrees- 
boro, Tenn.; from there to St. Louis, and, 
upon being exchanged, he joined his regi- 
ment at Chattanooga ; he was afterward 
engaged in the following severe battles : 
Buzzard Roost, Resaca and Allatoima ; he 
was with Sherman's army until after the 
capture of Atlanta, Ga., when he was sent 
to Tennessee, where, at the battle of 
Franklin, the rebels being defeated, he was 
sent to Decatur, Ala., guarding the river 
for several weeks, then to East Tennessee, 
via Chattanooga, where, after scouting sev- 
eral weeks, they were sent to Nashville 
and mustered out of service, then to 
Springfield, 111., where he received his dis- 
charge June 23, 1865, having been in ■ 
service three years, lacking six weeks. He 
then returned to Coles Co., 111., and as- 
sisted his father farming until the follow- 
ing spring, when he rented a farm, which [ 



he worked one year, when he moved upon 
his present place, which he rented until 
1870, when he purchased ninety-seven 
acres, and has since farmed his own land. 
He married April 24, 1866, to Mary 
Reeds; she was born in Edgar Co. Feb. 
20, 1844; she is the daughter of J. W. 
Reeds, who located in Illinois in 1831 ; 
they have two children now living by this 
union, viz., Arminta A., born Dec. 28, 
1868, and James B., born July 6, 1875. 

SHERMAN W. ROBERTS, farmer ; 
P. 0. Oakland ; born in Muskingum Co., 
Ohio, Jan. 11, 1852; he attended .school 
here until 9 years of age, when he emi- 
grated with his parents to Illinois, and lo- 
cated in East Oakland Tp., Coles Co., in 
September, 1860 (his father at that time 
purchasing upward of two hundred acres 
upon Sec. 6, where he still resides) ; he 
attended school here during the winter 
and assisted his father farming in the sum- 
mer, until he attained his majority ; he 
then engaged in farming a part of his 
father's farm on shares for three years, 
when he bought 100 acres where he now 
lives, and located upon his present i)lace 
in 1876 ; he also owns ten acres of tim- 
ber, his home farm being all under fence 
and cultivation. He married March 26, 
1874, to Sarah A. Dollar, daughter of 
John and Sarah Dollar, who are among the 
early piuneers of Coles Co., and whose 
biography appears in this work ; she wa.^ 
born in Coles Co., 111., Nov. 1, 1852. 
they have two children by this union — 
Sarah N., born Nov. 5, 1875, and Lillie 
A., born Nov. 22, 1877. 

HIRAM RUTHERFORD, retired 
physician and surgeon, Oakland ; one of 
the early settlers of Coles Co.; wa.< 
born in Lancaster Co., Penn., Dec. 27, 1815 ; 
his great-grandfather emigrated from Ire- 
land in 1729, and settled in Lancaster Co., 
Penn., upon a branch of the Suscjuelianna, 
where, with his wife, he lived until 1755, 
when he removed to Great Limestone 
Springs, two miles east of where the city 
of Harrisburg now stands, and near which 
place a large portion of his descendants 
now live ; this grand old patriarch died 
100 years ago, and lies buried in the Pax- 
ton Church-yard, the oldest burial-place in 
that country. The subject of this sketch 
was the eighth member of his father's 
family ; he was raised to heavy farm labor. 



EAST OAKLAND TOWNSHIP. 



57T 



and at the age of 18, he commenced 
the study of medicine with an older 
brother, an eminent physician of Harris- 
burg, and graduated from the Jefierson 
Medical College, Philadelphia, in the 
spring of 1838 ; with $10, a horse, saddle 
and bridle, he set out to seek his fortune ; 
his first location was at Millersburg, Penn.; 
in the latter days of 1840, he emigrated 
to Illinois, and located at Oakland, Coles 
Co., where he has since resided ; the prac- 
tice of medicine in a new country is a 
work of great labor, when the calls ai'e 
numerous and the extent of territory 
covered, as in this case, embraced half a 
degree of latitude and longitude ; the roads 
at that time, in this " Ambraw " country 
were mere deer-paths, and the streams 
were allowed to flow on their winding 
to the sea, unvexed by bridges or ferries, 
except such of the latter as a dug-out 
canoe aiforded ; canoe ferriage, now one of 
the lost arts, was then a distinguished occu- 
pation in high-water times; the traveler led 
his stripped horse in the water on the upper 
side of the canoe, taking for himself and sad- 
dle a position mid-way between the bow and 
stern; the ferryman, seated on the stern, 
paddle in hand, sent the unsteady craft 
across the stream, carefully keeping pace 
with the swimming horse ; the small 
streams had to be forded, in which case a 
high horse was a valuable help, but not 
unfre((Uently a glorious ducking was the 
result of such necessary adventures. The 
Doctor has been married twice, and has 
eight children living — two girls and six 
boys. He has now, from advancing years, 
retired from the practice of medicine, and 
enjoys, perhaps, as well as any other man, 
the fruits of a well spent and prosperous 
life. Of petty local public honors, he has 
had his full share ; village, town and school 
trusts have been his in plenty, seldom 
holding less than two offices at a time; iis 
School Treasurer, he has held and success- 
fully managed the funds of Township 14, R. 
Ill, for twenty-seven years; as Supervisor, 
he has represented East Oakland on the 
County Board many years ; further, with 
a conscience void of ofl'ense, he trusts, 
with God's help as a heritage to his chil- 
dren, to at last go down to the dark valley 
like unto his fathers before him, without 
a blot or stain ; neither a great nor re- 
markable man, but one whom his cotem- 



poraries will probably admit was not a 
failure and did not live in vain. 

S. C. SWINFORD, farmer and stock- 
raiser, Sec. 7 ; P. O. Oakland ; born iu 
Harrison Co., Ky., Oct. 4, 1825, where he 
attended school until 13 years of age, when 
he emigrated with his parents to Putnam 
Co., Ind., where he engaged upon his 
father's farm until 1844, at which time he 
engaged for two years farming on shares, 
and early in the winter of 1847, employed 
a team to transport himself, family and 
such goods as he was possessed of to Illi- 
nois, where he arrived upon the 17th of 
February, 1847, having paid out his last 
dollar to defray expenses on the trip, his 
only capital then being an old blind horse 
and two colts ; with this capital he com- 
menced farming, renting of Robert Gra- 
ham what land he could work with one 
team, in what is now known as Ashmore 
Tp. ; in the spring, he walked back to 
Indiana, and obtained of his father the 
loan of a wild horse, which he worked to 
get in his crop, when he returned the same 
well broke, and for four years was obliged 
to splice teams to put in his crop ; the sec- 
ond year, he rented a farm in what is now 
known as Oakland Tp., near where he now 
lives, and in this neighborhood rented land 
until 1855, since which time he has had 
all the land of his own he could work ; in 
1852, he purchased thirty acres of prairie 
land, upon which he then removed, and 
where he has since continued to live dur- 
ing a period of twenty-seven years ; he has 
added to the same by purchase as he has 
been able, until his home farm now con- 
tains 200 acres, upon which he has erected 
good buildings ; he also owns upward of 
600 acres in other parts of the county ; 
upon commencing housekeeping, he had 
neither table, chairs nor bedstead ; his 
housetiold goods consisted of a feather bed 
and some dishes ; his first bedstead, for 
which he paid twenty-five cents, being car- 
ried home, a distance of one mile, upon 
his back. He married Dec. 2, 1844, to 
Mary A. Rush ; she was born in Tennes- 
see Oct. 31, 1824 ; they have eight chil- 
dren now living, having lost three by 
death ; the names of the living are Cole- 
man T., Francis M., Henry, James M., 
John W., George R., Sarah E. and Thomas 
J. Mr. Swinford was first Assessor of 
East Oakland Tp., which office be has 



578 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



filled for several terms, as well as the office 
of School Director and Trustee. 

W. H. SWINFORD, farmer; P. 0. 
Oakland; born in Putnam Co., Ind., Aug. 
20, 1844, where he followed farming until 
1871, when he removed to Illinois and 
located in Hickory Tp., Coles Co., where 
he engaged in farming until 1875, when 
he purchased sixty acres of prairie land in 
East Oakland Tp., upon which he 
settled, and where he has since lived ; he 
also owns forty acres in Hickory Tp.,upon 
which he has erected good, comfortable 
farm buildings. He married Nov. 10, 
1867, to Mary A. Cule ; she was born in 
Putnam Co., Ind., Jan. 12, 1846 ; she is 
a sister of Richard Cole, whose biography 
appears in this work ; they have three chil- 
dren now living by this union, viz., 
Arthur D., James Matthew and William 
Theodore. 

N. P. SMITH, dealer in books, station- 
ery, etc., Oakland ; born iu Delaware Co., 
Ohio, Jan. 6, 1847, where he attended 
school until 16 years of age, when he re- 
moved to Pickaway Co., where he attended 
school one year ; he then attended at Dela- 
ware City, where he entered the Wesleyan 
University, where he remained eighteen 
months ; in 1866, he located in Shelby Co., 
111., and for five years engaged from four to 
six months during the fall and winter in 
teaching school, and the balance of the 
season farrains: and dealing in farm imple- 
ments and machinery; he then engaged in 
the book and stationery trade at Shelbj-- 
ville with T. E. Lapham for a short time, 
when, in IST^, he located at Oakland in 
the above business, under the firm name of 
Laphani & Smith, continuing the same 
for six months, when he purchased the in- 
terest of his partner, since which time he 
has continued the business alone; his 
business card will be found in the business 
directory of Oakland, in another part of 
this work. His marriage with Minerva 
Oollogher was celebrated Sept. 30, 1869 ; 
she was born in Shelby Co., 111., Sept. 9, 
1847 ; they have four children now living 
by this union, viz., Orrin L.. Jennie, 
Edith and Lucy. 

W. O. SMITH, farmer and stock-raiser, 
also proprietor and superintendent of 
Smith's flour, feed and saw mills ; P. O. 
t Oakland ; born in Champaign Co., Ohio, 
Oct. 8, 1824, where he followed farming 



until 25 years of age, when in 1849 he 
removed West, and located in Coles Co., III., 
purchasing 140 acres of land, where he 
lived until 1869, when he removed to Oak- 
land and purchased the steam flour and 
saw mill, which business he has since 
followed ; he owns his mill and four houses 
and lots in Oakland, besides upward of 700 
acres of land in Coles and Douglas Counties, 
mostly under cultivation. He married 
Aug. 3, 1843, Kezia Chance;. she was 
born Oct. 19, 1821 ; she died July 9, 
1872, at Oakland, leaving four children 
now living — John P., Benjamin F., Mary 
E., Theresa ; his marriage with Mrs. Mary 
E. Ashmore was celebrated Jan. 6, 1876 ; 
she was the widow of George W. Ashmore, 
one of the early pioneers of Coles Co. ; 
she has one son by her former husband, 
Charles C; Mrs. Smith was born in Ohio, 
March 30, 1830. Mr. Smith has filled 
the office of School Director fur fourteen 
years in succession. 

L. C. THORNTON, farm implements. 
Postmaster, Oakland; one of the pioneers 
of Edgar Co., III. ; born in Washington 
Co., Ind., Dee. 15, 1825; he removed 
with his parents in 1829, being then 4 
years of age, and located in Edgar Co., 
III., where he attended school, and engagi^d 
in farming until Sept. 10, 1861, when he 
enlisted as private in Co. E, 66th I. V. 
I ; this regiment was composed of picked 
men from the various Northwestern States, 
selected for their skill and accuracy in 
handling the rifle; the Ii6th was known 
in the army as the Western Sharp-shooters, 
and was generally thrown out in the ad- 
vance upon any important engagement, and 
was often detailed in s(|uads to pick ofi 
the rebel gunners ; Mr. T. served as private 
for twenty-three months, when he was 
promoted to Second Lieutenant, then tn 
First Lieutenant, then to Captain, which 
commission he held at the close of the war ; 
he was with Sherman's army in his march 
to Atlanta, as well as the siege and capture 
of the same; he then made the march 
through Georgia to the sea, spending the 
Christmas of 1864 at Savannah, (Jeorgia; 
he then made the march north through 
South and North Carolina, during which 
they hail many severe battles, until they 
reached Morri.sville Station. N. C, when 
his regiment was selected ;is the advance 
guard of Gen. Sherman when ho went out 



EAST OAKLAND TOWNSHIP. 



579 



to receive tlie surrender of Gen. Johnston; 
he then continued his march through to 
Washington, when, after the review of 
the army, he went to Louisville, Ky., then to 
Springfield, 111., where the regiment was 
mustered out of service ; Capt. Thornton was 
in the Union army three years and ten 
months, and while he escaped unhurt he 
had many narrow escapes, both of his life 
as well as being taken prisoner ; in one en- 
gagement the regiment lost thirteen commis- 
sioned officers ; at the left of Atlanta, he re- 
ceived seven bullets through his blouse, two 
through his pants, one through his under- 
clothing, and two struck the scabbard of 
his sword, one of which broke the same ; 
at the battle of Fort Donelson, his regi- 
ment was detailed in squads to pick off the 
rebel gunners ; while performing this duty, 
a shell burst between him and another com- 
missioned officer, which knocked him down 
and nearly buried him with sand ; he was 
once sent out with ten men and returned 
alone, the others being taken prisoners ; he 
owes his escape at this time to his presence 
of mind ; as the rebels advanced up»n him 
he made a stand behind a fence and com- 
menced firing to alarm the Union camp, 
which so alarmed the rebels that they re- 
treated with their other prisoners, and he 
made his way back to the camp oi the 
Union army. After receiving his discharge, 
he located at Ashmore, Coles Co., 111., in 
the lumber business, where he remained 
until 1871, when he removed to Oakland 
and engaged in the above business, which 
he has since followed ; he received his ap- 
pointmentas Postmasterin December, 1871, 
which office he has since held. His mar- 
riage with Annie M. Cox was celebrated 
Feb. 29, 1872; she was born in Ashmore, 
her parents locating there in 1832; they 
have three children now living by this 
union, Marv A., Annie L., and an infant, 
W. J. TEMPLES, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Oakland ; born in Monroe 
Co., Ind., March 6, 1841, where he en- 
gaged in farming and attending school 
until he attained his majority, when he 
continued farming in Indiana until the 
latter part of the year of 18(j3, when he 
removed to Illinois, and located upon his 
present place on Jan. 1, 18t)4, where he 
has near 200 acres of land all under fence 
and cultivation. Mr. Temple arrived in 
this township without means, and during 



the winter cut upward of 20,000 rails 
under contract, and the following spring 
commenced farming on shares for one sea- 
son, and the following spring removed 
upon his present place, where he had pre- 
viously bought forty acres, and to which 
he has since added by the fruits of his 
hard labor, in which his wife has nobly as- 
sisted him, until he now owns nearly 200 
acres, upon whicli he has good buildings. 
He married March 15, 1866, to Su.san 
Jones; she was born in Champaign Co., 
Ohio, March 16, 1847; they have three 
children living by this union — Andrew J., 
Jolin H. and William A. Mrs. Temples 
lost three brothers, fighting for the preserva- 
tion of the Union; George W. Jones, 
killed at Pittsburg Landing, the others, 
William A. and Robert Jones, both died 
in hospital from disease contracted in the 
army, all of the above belonging to Illinois 
regiments. 

JEREMIAH TITUS, farmer, Sec. 6 ; P. 
0. Oakland ; born in Loudoun Co.,Va., Sept. 
13, 1810, where he remained with his 
father, Tunis Titus, and engaged in farnu 
ing until he attained his majority, and, 
for the first few years, worked at $5 per 
month, after which he hired by the year 
for $100 per year, which was the highest 
wages he received until 30 years of age, 
at which time he rented land and engaged 
in farming until 1855, when he removed 
to Muskingum Co., Ohio, and rented 
land until 1860, when he came to Coles 
Co., 111., by team in company with Thomas 
Roberts, and located upon his present 
place, where he has since continued to live. 
He owns 106 acres upon his home farm, 
which he has made by his own hard labor 
energy and industry, in which he has been 
nobly assisted by his wife ; Mr. Titus is 
now in his 60tli year and, although ex- 
posed to all the hardships and privations 
of frontier life, is now in possession of all 
his faculties, and continues in good health ; 
in 1872, he suffered the amputation of his 
right arm, since which time he has not 
been able to attend to all the duties of his 
farm ; is yet able to saw the wood and 
attend to most of the light labor. He 
married, Oct. 2, 1837, to Susan Good- 
heart; she was born in Loudoun Co., Va., 
Jan. 6, 1817 ; they have four children 
now living, having lost two by death ; the 
names of the living are James W. ( born 

6 



580 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



Feb. 22, 1839), Joshua Jonas (born 
March 21, 1845), John A. J. (Sept. 14, 
1846), Eliza Jane (April 6, 1854); the 
deceased are Jacob J. and Mary Virginia ; 
Joshua Jonas Titus, the second son now 
living, married Louisa E. Blevius April 
2, 1868; she was born in Edgar Co., 
March 30, 1850 ; three children were the 
fruit of this union, one of which is de- 
deceased ; the names of the living are 
Martha E. (born June 18, 1870), John 
(born Feb. 3,, 1875); the deceased was 
Sarah Jane ; Mr. Titus now manages the 
fiirm of his father, which duty he has per- 
formed for the past four years. 

WM. TINSLEY, flirmer, deceased; 
born in Anderson Co., Ky., March 10, 
1807, where he learned the cooper's trade, 
which business he followed until 1831, 
when he came to Illinois and located in 
Edgar Co., where, after farming several 
years, he removed to East Oakland Tp., 
Coles Co., and located upon Sec. 4, where 
he lived until his death, and where his 
widow and two children still continue to 
reside ; his first land he purchased for $3 
per acre, to which, during his life, he 
added, as he was able, until at the time of 
his decease, he owned upward of 200 acres. 
He married. May 20, 1831, to Sarah H. 
Reeds ; she was born in Kentucky, Nov. 
30, 1806; she died Aug. 16, 1852, leav- 
ing two children now living, viz., Maria 
E. and Lucy K. ; his marriage with Mrs. 
Susannah C. Handley was celebrated June 
11, 1853 ; she was born in Virginia Jan. 
1, 1826; she has three children by her 
previous husband, Miohael Handley, viz., 
Justin H., Malinda J. and Susan E. ; by 
her last union, she has four children now 
living, viz., Mary L., Martha M., Thomas 
W., George W. Mr. Tinsley died Nov. 
24, 18G'J ; he was held in high esteem by 
all who knew him. 

M. B. VALODIN, former and stock- 
rai.ser ; P. 0. Oakland ; born in Ports- 
mouth, Scioto Co., Ohio, March 28, 1828 ; 
at 8 years of ago, he removed with his 
parents to New Madrid, Mo., living there 
until 1838, at which time his father died, 
when he removed with his mother and sis- 
ter to E<lgar Co., 111., where he engaged in 
farming until 1844, with the exce]ition of 
one year in which he attended school in 
Paris ; he then went to Wisconsin, where 
he was engaged at work in the shot tower 



at Helena, six months, and followed min- 
ing the same length of time, when he en- 
listed for the Mexican war, at which time 
the Government having trouble with the 
Indians, he, with his regiment, was 
employed in Illinois, Wisconsin and Min- 
nesota in removing the Indians to their 
reservation, until 1848; he then returned 
to Edgar Co., 111., and followed farm- 
ing until 1849, when he removed to Coles 
Co., and engaged in farming and raising 
and dealing in stock until 1864, at which 
date he located in Oakland, and to the 
above business engaged in the dry goods 
trade until 1866, when he sold his store 
and was appointed agent of the Illinois 
Midland Bailroad, at Oakland, which po- 
sition he held one year, and at the same 
time continued his farming and stock bus- 
iness, also dealing in lumber for one year ; 
he removed upon his present place in the 
spring of 1878; his home farm contains 
455 acres, upon which he has good build- 
ings ; he also owns twenty acres of timber 
and one block and seven lots in Oakland, 
upon which he has several buildings. He 
married, Dec. 30, 1849, to Sarah A. Red- 
den ; she was a daughter of Wm. Redden, 
one of the early settlers of Coles Co. ; she 
died April 12, 1865, leaving seven chil- 
dren now living, viz., Mary F., Sarah A., 
Clara, John F., William A., Charles M. 
and Alice; his marriage with Mrs. Nancy 
J. Carter was celebrated Sept. 13, 1865; 
she was the daughter of Asa Amos, boru 
in Ohio, April 24, 1833 ; three children 
were the fruit of this union, one of which 
is deceased ; the living are Covington 
B. and Loring. 

JOSEPH H. WINKLER, firm of 
Clark & Winkler, lawyers, Oakland ; born 
in Coles Co., 111., March 14, 1851, where 
he attended school during the winter and 
learned and worked at the blacksmith 
trade during the summer until 17 years 
of age, when he entered the State Military 
College at Champaign, 111., where he 
attended nearly two years, during which 
time he worked at his trade Saturdays 
and mornings and evenings, from which he 
obtained the means to meet all of his bills 
contracted while attending the above Col- 
lege; he then, in the fall of 1873, en- 
tered the Law School at Albany, N. Y., 
which he attended nearly one year, grad- 
uating and receiving his diploma May 5, 



EAST OAKLAND TOWNSHIP. 



581 



1874; was admitted to practice at the bar 
of the State of New York May 8, of the 
same year ; coming West again, he was 
admitted to the bar of tliis State on Sept. 
14, 1874 ; the following winter he taught 
.school two miles south of Oakland, board- 
ing at home and walking to and from his 
school night and morning ; the spring fol- 
lowing he went to Mattoon and engaged in 
the law office of Horace S. Clark for sev- 
eral months, where he obtained more prac- 
tical knowledge of law than in any term of 
law school which he had attended. He 
then associated with Mr. Clark in the law 
business and located in Oakland, his library 
at that time consisted of three law-books, 
his office furniture, one rickety table and 
two old chairs ; he now has his office in 
rear of the Oakland Bank, and has a fine 
law library ; has built up a very extensive 
practice. His marriage with Emma S. 
Crawford was celebrated Dec. 23, 1876 ; 
she was born in Crawfordsvillc, Ind., June 
29, 1854; her parents removed West and 
located in Illinois when she was 6 years of 
age. They have one child by this union 
—Frank C. 

H. D. WILLIAMS, firm of Williams 
& Carter, merchants, Oakland ; born in 
New York City Feb. 10, 1846 ; he emi- 
grated West with his parents when 9 years 
of age and located in Edgar Co., 111., where 
he attended school and engaged in farm- 
ing until August, 1862, when he enlisted 
as private in the 66th I. V. I., and was 
immediately sent to the front ; he was 
first engaged in the battle of Corinth, 
Miss., where his regiment suffered severely, 
losing fully one-third of its men in killed 
and wounded ; he then went to Danville, 
Miss., where he remained nearly one year, 
during which time they built a fine stock- 
ade ; he then went to Pulaski, Tenn., 
where he was placed in the hospital on 
account of sickness, and was detailed as 
hospital druggist for two months, when he 
returned to his regiment and was in the 
Atlanta campaign, which was a series of 
battles from the beginning until the siege 
and capture of the above-named place ; 
among the more important battles, the 
first was at Snake Creek Gap, May 9, 
1864, when the 66th, being in the ad- 
vance, fought their way for upward of 
eight miles ; afterward were the battle of 
Lay's Ferry, Rome Cross Roads, Dallas, 



Kenesaw Mountain and many others, ar- 
riving before Atlanta in July, where he 
remained during the siege, which lasted 
until September following ; his next move 
was with Sherman in his march to the sea, 
where he arrived and spent the Christmas 
following in Savannah, Ga. ; from there 
he marched north with the army, through 
South and North Carolina, fighting a large 
part of the way until reaching Blorrisville 
Station, N. C.,when Johnston surrendered, 
and his regiment, the 66th I. V. I., was 
the advance guard of Gen. Sherman when 
he went to receive the surrender of John- 
ston ; he continued his march through to 
Washington, and after the review of the 
army, was mustered out June 28, 1865; 
he then returned to Oakland, where he has 
since lived the most of the time, either 
being in business for himself or as clerk 
for other firms ; he engaged in his 
present business in 1876, which he has 
since successfully followed. He married, 
March 22,1 872, to Flora Troxell ; she was 
born in Coles Co., 111., Nov. 19, 1854; 
they have one child by this union- 
Charles E., born July 4, 1874. 

W. B. ZIMMERMAN, farmer; P. 0. 
Oakland ; one of the early settlers of Coles 
Co., 111. ; born in Augusta Co., Va., Feb. 
4, 1826, where he lived until eleven years 
of age, when he emigrated with his parents 
to Illinois, and located in Edgar Co., in 
1837 ; in the fall of 1838, they located in 
what is now known as East Oakland Tp., 
near where Mr. Zimmerman has since 
lived ; he being the oldest son of Martin 
Zimmerman who emigrated from Virginia 
at the above date with a family of nine 
children ; and the year following their ar- 
rival the whole family was prostrated by 
malarial disease with the exception of the 
subject of this sketch, who had the labor 
of managing the forty acres which his 
father had purchased, and the following 
spring found the family largely in debt; 
lie remained with his father until 20 
years of age, when he worked out five 
months at $9 per month, giving his father 
half of his earnings and being himself soon 
after prostrated by sickness, which con- 
sumed his own earnings for doctor bills 
and medicine ; the following year he 
worked out by the month at $10 per 
month, and having saved about $75, and 
owning a two year colt, he hired a horse to 



582 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



put in his crops, and commenced farming 
on his own account ; in 18-48, he purchased 
his present place of eighty acres upon time 
payments, to which he has added by pur- 
chase as he has been able, until he now 
.owns about 8U0 acres of laud, upon which 
he has good buildings ; he is also a stock- 
holder of the Oakland National Bank to 
the amount of $5,01)0 ; all of the above be- 
ing accumulated by his own hard labor. 
He married, March 1, 1848, Louisa J. 
Black ; she was born in Clark Co., III., 
March 13, 1827 ; her parents located in 
Illinois about 1 82(3 ; they have two children 
now living by this union, viz., Sarah L.,born 
April 16, 1854, and Florence I., born 
Feb. 18, 1859 ; he has held the office of \ 
School Director several terms, and is one 
of the Directors of the Oakland National 
Bank, of which he is a large stockholder; 
in 1842 he took by team to Chicago a load 
of oats which he sold at 12} cts. per bushel, 
receiving his pay in s^lt, leather and gi'o- 
ceries, the trip consuming about eighteen 
days; his father died in the fall of 1852, 
in East Oakland Tp. 

JOHN H. ZARLEY, miller, Oak- 
land ; born in Washington Co., Penn., April 
25, 1819, where he attended school and 
engaged in farming until March 1837, 
when he located in Morgan Co., Ohio, and 
followed farming until 1848, at which date 



he located in Blackford Co., Ind., and en- 
gaged in farming until 1851, when he re- 
moved to Moultrie Co., 111., and engaged 
in farming until 1853, at which time he 
returned to Ohio and farmed for eleven 
years ; he then returned to Moultrie Co., 
III., for two years, and, in 1866, he engaged 
in the milling business in Lovington, for 
one year; in 1867 he erected a mill in 
Macon Co., which he ran two years, and, 
in 1869, he located upon a farm for one 
year in Macon Co. ; in 1871, he again lo- 
cated in Moultrie Co. for one year in the 
lumber business, when he engaged in mill- 
ing in Oakland, which he has since success- 
fully followed ; his business card appears 
in the business directory of Oakland in 
this work. He married May 9, 1841, 
Euphemia Coddington ; she was born in 
Perry Co., Ohio, Dee. 14,. 1822 ; they have 
three children now living, viz., Samuel, 
Abram W., and Robert H. Mr. Zarley 
has invented a corn-planter, receiving his 
patent Oct. 29, 1878, which supersedes 
any planter the writer of this article has 
yet seen ; he has a full-sized one on hand 
for inspection ; it is the only planter in the 
market that cultivates the soil and drops 
the corn at the same time; he will sell 
State rights or allow them manufactured by 
paying him a royalty. 



PLEASANT GROVE TOWNSHIP. 



JOHN JEFFERSON ADAMS, 

farmer, decea.sed. Sec. 17 ; P. 0. Camp- 
bell ; owns 1,240 acres; Mr. Adams was 
one of the early pioneers of Coles Co.; he 
spent nearly half a century in Coles Co., 
111., and was one of the men who helped 
to change it from a wilderness waste to a land 
of fruitful fields, of bursting barns, 
bending orchards and happy homes, and, 
therefore, deserves more than a passing 
notice; he was born Sept. 30, 1806, in 
Williamson Co., Tenn. Was married to 
Martha Gamniil in 1829. On the 2(')th of 
October, 183(1, he, with his wife and first- 
born child (W. E. Adams, who was then 
11 days old), emigrated to what was then 
Clark Co., and after twenty four days' 
march, pitched his tent near the spot where 



he died ; Mrs. Adams died in 1844, leav- 
ing sis children — William E., of Charles- 
ton ; the next lived to be a soldier, who 
died in a hospital during the late rebellion ; 
Mrs. Brown, of Hillsboro ; Mrs. Dr. Reel, 
of Oakland ; Mrs. West, of Texas, and 
Mrs. J. S. Grimes, now of Kansas. Mr. 
Adams was then married to Nancy Caroline 
Dryden Jan. 29, 1845; she was born Jan. 
23, 1821; died Sept. 2, 1854; he was 
then married to Sarah E. Dryden Feb. 27, 
1855 ; Sarah E. Dryden w.os born .Jan. 
14, 1827; the fruit of this marriage was 
eleven children, six living, five ilead ; the 
names of the living are William E., Eliz- 
abeth A., Eliza, Martha J., Margaret M. 
and David ; the names of the deceased are 
Mary J., James H., Mary D., Unity B. 



PLEASANT GROVE TOWNSHIP. 



583 



and John W. David Adams was born in 
Coles Co., 111., June 26, 1849. Was mar- 
ried to Hannah J. Harris May 6, 1873 ; 
she was born in Coles Co., 111., Oct. 10, 
1853 ; the fruit of this marriage is two 
children, one living and one dead ; the 
name of the living is Grace. 

ANDREW H. ALLISON, farmer, 
deceased. Sec. 8 ; P. 0. Campbell ; owned 
300 acres of land, which was left to 
the heirs ; was born in Mecklenburg Co., 
N. C, Sept. 20, 1823 ; came from Tennes- 
see to this county when 13 years of age, 
where he resided until his death, which 
occurred Nov. 15, 186-1. He was married 
to p]veline Dryden Dec. 30, 1845 ; she was 
born in Bedford Co., Tenn., June 7, 1822 ; 
they have had eight children — Mary Ann, 
Emily Frances, Thomas L., William D., 
Nancy C, John N., Henry C. and Andrew 
B. Mr. Allison was School Director three 
years, and Justice of the Peace when he 
died. His father was in the war of 1812. 

JAMES ANDERSON, farmer, Sec. 
20 ; P. 0. Mattoon ; owns 133 acres ; was 
born in Monroe Co., Md., Dec. 25, 1825, 
and lived with his parents on the farm in 
Maryland until 7 years of age ; then went 
with them to Ohio, where he resided until 
the year 1846, when he went to the Mex- 
ican war, and returned in 1855. He was 
married to Lueinda Knight Dec. 29, 1847 ; 
she was born in Licking Co., Ohio, June 12, 
1826 ; they have had eight children, seven 
of whom are living, viz., Mary Ann, Co- 
lumbia, William H., Sarah P., Emma, 
Martha, Charles W. and one infant. Mr. 
Anderson enlisted in 1846, and went with 
his regiment to Mexico ; he was in the 
service thirteen months, and was in the 
skirmish at Ounsford. Mr. Anderson's 
father is a native of Maryland, and his 
mother of Pennsylvania ; the parents of 
Mrs. Anderson are natives of Maine. 

JAMES M. ANDERSON, farmer, 
Sec. 3 ; P. 0. Charleston ; owns 140 
acres; was born in Lewis Co., Va., 
Jan. 27, 1835 
until 22 years of age. He 
ried to Dorothy A. Leitch Dec. 27, 
I860; she was born in Coles Co., 111., 
April 16, 1842; Mr. Anderson has fiye 
children living and one dead; the living 
are named Sumner, Victoria, Wesley, 
Emma J. and Fannie B.; deceased, infant. 
Mr. Anderson has held the office of school 



engaged in farming 
" was mar- 



Director eight years, and Road Commis- 
sioner two years. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson's 
parents are natives of Virginia. 

JOSEPH ARMSTRONG, farmer and 
stockdealer, Sec. 9; P. 0. Charleston; 
was born in Pendleton Co., Va., Aug. 11, 
1823; he lived with his parents, assisting 
his father on the farm until 23 years of 
age, when he married Elizabeth Leitch, 
Sept. 2, 1844; Mrs. Armstrong was born 
in Pendleton Co., Va., May 23, 1815; 
they have had four children, three living 
and one dead; their names are Charles E., 
Abel T. T., Margaret J., and Arametha 
L., who died. Mr. Armstrong has held 
the office of Township Collector one term, 
Road Commissioner one term, and School 
Director five years. He was in the late 
war; enlisted in the year 1862 in Co. 
I, 123d I. V. I.; was in the battles 
of Perryville, Farmington and Chicka- 
mauga; served three years and was mus- 
tered out by general order. Mr. Arm- 
strong's father was in the war of 1812. 
Mr. Armstrong owns 320 acres of very 
fine river-bottom land. 

JOHN W. BAKER, farmer ; P. 0. 
Campbell ; owns 135 acres in Sec. 19 ; was 
born in Morgan Co., 111., Feb. 17, 1840 ; 
lived with his i»arents until the age of 6, 
when they died, leaving him to shift for 
himself; he emigrated to this State in 
1861, settling in Coles Co. Was married 
to Susan D. Rodgers April 5, 1866; she 
was born in Coles Co., 111., Feb. 9, 1851; 
the fruit of this marriage is three children 
— Effie M., Mary A. and Isaac W. Mr. B. 
has held the office of School Director six 
years, and Commissioner of Highways three 
years. Was in the late rebellion ; enlisted 
in 1861, Co. B, 7th I. V. I.; served three 
months; re-enlisted Sept. 25, 1861, in Co. 
E, 5th I. V. C., and served four months in 
that regiment ; was in the battle of Vicks- 
burg, and several other battles and skir- 
mishes. Mrs. Baker's grandfather on her 
mother's side was in the Black Hawk war. 

JOHN L. BALCH, deceased, farmer 
and author ; P. 0. Charleston ; the subject 
of this sketch owned 120 acres of land, on 
Sec. 14 ; willed to the four sisters who now 
live on the same ; he was born in Logan 
Co., Ky., Dec. 27, 1800, and died October 
3, 1870. He lived with his parents on 
the farm until married, Nov. 10, 1829, to 
Melinda N. White ; she was born in S.ulli- 



584 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



van Co., Ind., May 4, 1808, died Jan. 5, 
1865. Mr. Baloh came to this county in 
1830, and settled on the farm where the 
four sisters now reside, and remained until 
his death ; he was the flither of eight 
children, six of whom are livins;, viz., 
Alfred B., Albina, Mary M., William, 
Martha and Angelina E.; deceased, Alex- 
ander H. and James. Mr. Balch was a 
school-teacher in this township in an early 
day, and was an author of considerable 
note; some of his writings were published 
on the slavery (juestion. He was a Repub- 
lican. 

JESSE BEALS, farmer, Sec. 20 ; P. 
0. Mattoon ; owns 250 acres ; was born 
in Crawford Co., Ind., April 26, 1826 ; 
lived with his fathc^r until 1836, and then 
lived with his mother until ho married, 
Dec. 1::, 1844, to Mary Ann Horton, who 
was born in Bedford Co., Penn., Dec. 4, 
1818 ; they have had five children, four of 
whom are now living, viz., Amand M., 
Emma H., Nevada and Frank W. ; de- 
ceased — Gary. Mr. Beals was School 
Director five years. Township Super- 
visor of this township one term, in 1866, 
and was elected Justice of the Peace, 
in 1877, which ofiice he now holds. Mr. 
Bcals is a minister of the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church, and has had charge 
of the Good Hope Church, in this town- 
ship, for a number of years ; he has had 
several discussions on questions of the- 
ology, and has had one debate with the 
Rev. Roily Martin, of Danville, Vermilion 
Co., 111., one with Rev. Clark Braden, 
President of Carbondalc University, and 
several other ministers of considerable note ; 
Mr. Beals' parents are natives of Pennsyl- 
vania. 

GEO. B. BALCII, farmer, Postmaster 
and agent G. & M. R. R., Larna ; born 
in Bedford Co., Tenn., Nov. 1, 1828 ; his 
father, Alfred M. Balch, was born in Lo- 
gan Co., Ky., Jan. 23, 1798. He was 
married to Elizabeth (jammil July 1, 
181!); she was born Jan. 1, 1800; they 
left Tennessee late in October, 1830, and 
settled in I'lea.sant Grove Tp. ; their jour- 
ney and settlement are fully noted in the 
history of that township ; they remained 
here during their lives ; Mrs. Balch died 
Dec. 29, 1855 ; Mr. Balch Dec. 2, 1856 ; 
the subject of this sketch, Geo. B., grew 
to maturity here, receiving only a moder- 



ate education. He was married March 
19, 1851, to Margaret S. Walker, who 
was born in Tennessee, Oct. 1, 1832 ; 
they became the parents of eleven chil- 
dren, all of whom are now living ; Mrs. 
Balch died Nov. 4, 1875, leaving her 
daughters to fill her place ; the names and 
births of the children are as follows : Sam- 
uel W. (born Jan. 28, 1852 ; married 
Nov. 25, 1875), Elizabeth J. (born Sept. 
18, 1853 ; married April 21, 1875), Ann 
Minerva (born Aug. 10, 1855), Thomas 
W. and Nancy M. (born Oct. 8, 1858), 
Esther R. (born June 20, 1861 ), Ellen 

D. (born Jan. 31, 1863), Minnie B. (born 
March 30, 1865), Eliza J. (born June 
25, 1868), Robert E. (March 26. 1871), 
Margaret L. (July 3, 1873). Mr. Balch 
has just established the post ofiice and 
station of Larna, both of which ofl[ic(^s he 
fills ; it is the intention to erect necessary 
buildings, open a store and shop or two 
here, and start a town ; it is a good point. 

GOTTLIEB F. BIDLE, farmer and 
blacksmith. Sec. 16; P. 0. Campbell; 
owns 230 acres; was born in Essling Co., 
Germany, Jan. 21, 1835; his parents died 
when he was quite young ; he came to this 
country when 17 years of age, and located 
in Coles Co., 111., June 18, 1855, and w;is 
married to Sophrona Walker Oct. 30, 
1856, who was born in Coles Co., 111., 
Sept. 13, 1839; they have had ten chil- 
dren, nine of whom are living, viz., Albert 
F., James H., Mary E., David, George, 
Louisa C, Joseph, Julia and Richard ; 
deceased — John C. Mr. Bidle has been 
School Director nine years, Pathmaster one 
term, and is Juistice of the Peace at the 
present time. He was in the late war as 
blacksmith for the 123d I. V. I. (afterward 
mounted K 

JAMES GRAY BOVELL, farmer; 
P O. Larna; owns 260 acres; was born 
in Washington Co., Tenn., June 1, 1825, 
and came to Edgar Co. with his parents 
when only 4 years old ; he stayed there five 
years; then came to Coles Co., where he 
has since resided. He was married May 
6, 1846, to Eliza Dryden, who was born in 
Bedford Co., Tenn., July 24, 1825, and 
has had four children, viz., Mary E. 1)., 
Nancy C, John W. and one infant: Mary 

E. D. is the only one living. Mr. and 
Mrs. Bovell's parents were natives of Ten- 
nessee. 



PLEASANT GROVE TOWNSHIP. 



585 



JAMES R. P. CASSADAY, former, 
Sec. 10; P. 0. Campbell; was born in 
Edgar Co., 111., Aus;. 22, 1845; lived with 
his parents until 14 years of age, when 
they died, leaving him to shift for him.*elf. 
He was married to Catharine p]dmond Oct. 
17, 1867: she was born in Virginia Fob. 
8, 1844 ; died Aug. 13, 1877 ; they had 
.six children — four dead, two living ; the 
names of the living are Mary E., William 
H.; the names of the deceased are Jemima, 
Joanna, Sarah E. and one infant. Mr. C. 
was then married to Mary M. Xeal July 
20, 1878; she was born in Cumberland 
Co., 111., Sept. 7, 1841. Mr. Cassaday has 
held office of Pathmaster one term. School 
Director several years. He was in the 
late war; enlisted in 1863 in 11th Ind. V. 
C, Co. D ; served two years, and was in 
the battles of Franklin and Nashville, and 
was also on the plains fighting the Indi- 
ans six months. Mr. Cassaday's grand- 
father on his father's side was in the 
Black Hawk war. Blr. Cassaday owns 77 J 
acres of excellent land. 

HENRY CECIL, former. Sec. 10 ; P. 
O. Charleston; owns 215 acres worth 
$40 per acre ; he was born in fiercer 
Co., Ky., Feb. 15, 1826 ; lived on the 
farm, engaged with his father in forming 
until 21 years of age. Was then 
married to Hannah E. Robinson Oct. 7, 
1847 ; she was born in Shelby Co., Ky., 
July 23, 1827 ; they have had seven chil- 
dren — Keziah F., Margaret J., Henry 
H., Mary R. E., Adda, Daniel E.,and John 
I., who is dead. Mr. Cecil held the office 
of School Director six years, and Constable 
three years ; Mrs. Cecil's parents were one 
of the first families of Virginia; Mr. Cecil 
is one the best farmers in the township. 

SAMUEL CHOWNING, farmer. Sec. 
19 ; P. 0. Campbell ; owns 109 acres ; was 
born in Fayette Co., Ky., June 4, 1827 ; 
came with his parents to the county when 
only 4 years old, and lived with his 
parents until 18 years of age. He 
was married to Polly Ann McCann, in Feb- 
ruary, 1849 ; she was born in Logan Co., 
Ky., July 25, 1824, and has had nine chil- 
dren, viz : Nancy I., Rebecca D.. Laura A., 
Mary L., Robert P., Rachel C, deceased, 
John B., Charles P., and one infant ; Mr. 
Chowning's father was in the Black Hawk 
war, and Mrs. Chowning's father in the 
war of 1812. 



JAMES W. CRUME, farmer. Sec. 9 ; 
P. 0. Mattoon ; owns eighty acres ; was 
born in Marion Co., Ky., March 17, 1830, 
and lived with his parents on the farm un- 
til 21 years of age. He was married to 
Emily J. Maine, Dec. 29, 1856, who was 
born in Dubois Co., Ind., Aug. 25, 1834, 
and died Sept. 21, 1862. He then mar- 
ried Mary E. Reynolds Dec. 31, 1864, 
who was born in Coles Co., 111., March 29, 
1834, and has had eight children, four of 
whom are living, viz., William R., Ben- 
jamin R., James H. and Emily O. ; the 
deceased are L. D., F. C, E. 0. and one 
infant. Mr. Crume was Commissioner of 
Highways three years. School Director ten 
years. Township Trustee three years and 
was elected Justice of the Peace in the 
year 1870, which office he held for seven 
years, and is Township Treasurer at the 
present time. 

GEORGE DIEHL, farmer and stock- 
dealer, Sec. 7 ; P. 0. Mattoon ; owns 
278 acres ; was born in Bedford Co., 
Penn., Oct. 12, 1811, and Hved with 
his parents on the farm in that St a 
until the year 1837, when he cam 
to Coles Co. He was married Feb. 23, 
1842, to Mary E. Jeffries, who was born 
in Grayson Co., Ky., Feb. 23, 1824 ; died 
Nov. 27, 1849. Mr. Diehl was then mar- 
ried April 20, 1854, to Catharine Ful- 
ler, who was born in Virginia about the 
year 1821 ; died July 16, 1871. Mr. Diehl 
was then married Dec. 12, 1873, to Sally 
Matthews, who was born in Grayson Co., 
Ky., Aug. 2, 1S16. Mr. Diehl has had 
six children, viz., Margaret, Thomas, 
Daniel, Mary E., John H. and Jennie. Mr. 
Diehl's parents were natives of Pennsyl- 
vania and Mrs. Diehl's of Kentucky. 

THOMAS JEFFRIES DIEHL, form- 
er, Sec. 6 ; P. 0. Mattoon ; owns eighty 
acres ; was born in Coles Co., 111., Jan. 17, 
1846, and lived with his parents on the 
farm in this township until 22 years of 
age. He was then married, Feb. 26, 
1868, to Kittle Bruuk Hankley, who was 
born in Grayson Co., Ky., June 2, 1847, 
and who has six children, viz., Anna Lee. 
Charles Redmond, Mary Alta, George 
Edmond, William Ansrus and Ermie. 
iMr. Diehl was School Director eight years, 
and Overseer of the Road one year. Mr. 
Diehl's parents were natives of Pennsylva- 
nia ; Mrs. Diehl's of Kentucky. 



586 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



DANIEL DIEHL, farmer, Sec. 22; 
P. 0. Johnstown ; owns eighty acres ; 
was born in Coles Co., 111., Jan. 1., 1848, 
and lived with his parents until 21 years 
of age. He was married to Martha M. 
Odell Dec. 21, 18G8 ; she was born in 
Coles Co., 111., Sept. 9, 1849, and has had 
five children, three of whom are living, 
viz., Frank E., Albert L. and Mary E.; 
deceased, two infants. Mr. Diehl's par- 
ents arc natives of Pennsylvania ; Mrs. 
Diehl's, of Tennessee. 

JACOB EDMON, farmer; P. O. 
Charleston ; was born in Highland Co., 
Va., June 17, 1851, and lived with his 
father ; engaged in fiirming. He was 
married to Alwilda Armstrong Dec. 26, 
1877 ; she was born in Highland Co., Va., 
Nov. 9, 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Edmon's 
parents were natives of Virginia; Mr. Ed- 
mon's father was one of the early settlers 
in this county, coming here in an early 
day with but very little property. He now 
owns 168 acres of very fine farm land on 
Sec. 14 in this township. 

JAMES THOMAS EWING, farmer, 
Sec. 8; P. 0. Mattoon; owns 247 acres; 
wa.s born in Coles Co., 111., Nov. 13, 1835; 
Jived with his parents until 22 years of 
age. Was married Sept. 10, 1862, to 
Rebecca Jane Walker, who was born in 
Coles Co., 111., Feb. 11, 1842; moved on 
this farm in the fall of 1862, and has had 
six children, four of whom are living, viz., 
Nancy J., Samuel W., Gertrude and 
Charles M.; the deceased are Mary L. and an 
inlant. Mr. Ewing was Township Col- 
lector of La Fayette Tp. in 1859 and 
1860, and Assessor in this township four 
years ; he was in the late war, and went 
out in July, 1861, as a private in Co. 
C, 1st I. V. C. ; elected Corporal ; 
then went out in 1864 in the 135th 
I.,V. I.; was promoted to 1st Lieu- 
tenant, and served four months, until dis- 
charged ; he was captured at the battle of 
Lexington, and eventually mustered out. 
Mr. Ewing's parents were nativ<>s of Ken- 
tucky, and Mrs. Ewinu'.s of Tennessee. 

NELSON S. FREEMAN, M. D., 
practicing phy.sician in Farmington ; P. 0. 
Campbell ; was born in Orange Co., Ind., 
Fi'b. 17, 1833, and lived with his parents 
until 19 years of age. He was married 
to Mary F. Carman Sept. 29, 1851 ; she 
was born iu Tioga Co., Penn., April 2, 



1832 ; they have had six children — Caro- 
line M., Charles E., Lizzie A., William 
F., Frank F. and Matthew S., deceased. 
Dr. Freeman has been practicing medicine 
! twenty-three years ; his practice has been 
I quite extensive and attended with good 
success. Dr. Freeman was Assistant Sur- 
geon in the 63d I. V. I. for four months, 
and was a second time appointed Assistant 
Surgeon in the army ; he was Captain of 
a company of colored troops, has been 
Postmaster in Farmington ten years, was 
Township Trustee eight years and Town- 
ship Treasurer two years, which ofiice he 
still holds. The Doctor's parents are 
natives of Virginia, and Mrs. Freeman's 
father a native of Pennsylvania, her mother 
' of Conneoticut. The Doctor owns a house 
and lot in Farmington. 

JAMES PARIS, former and nursery- 
man, Sec. 1 ; P. 0. Mattoon ; was born in 
Bourbon Co., Ky., Feb. 22, 1808; en- 
gaged with his father in farming and 
nursery business until 30 years of age. 
He was then married to Rachel E. Mc- 
Gahan Aug. 17, 1843; she was born in 
Orange Co., Ind., Jan. 4, 1826 ; they have 
had ten children, four living and six dead ; 
the names of the living are Thomas C, 
John D., Mary E. and Charles H.; the 
names of the dead are William E., Sarah 
I., William W., George W. and Martha 
A. and one infant. Mr. Faris commenced 
the nursery business in the year 1840, 
and has carried it on ever since ; he has a 
good variety of trees on hand at present ; 
he has also farmed (|uite extensively and 
dealt considerably in cattle ; he owns 588 
acres of fine farm land, and has accumulated 
nearly all this pnijierty in a few years by 
industry, economy and perseverance. 

JOHN D. FARRIS, former and nur- 
seryman, Sec. 2 ; P. O. Charleston ; owns 
900 acres ; was born in Edgar Co., 111., 
Sept. 30, 1827, and was engaged with his 
father in farming and nursery business 
until 29 years of age. Was married to 
Eliza J. Manfort Jan. 28, 1852; she was 
born in Henry Co., Ky., March 16,1833; 
the fruit of this marriage is eight children, 
viz., Caleb, Mattie M., John N., Olive, 
Israel J. (deceased), William, Anna and 
one infant. Mr. Farris' father started the 
first mill to grind wheat and corn in this 
township; people came a great distance to 
mill, this being the only one for miles 



PLEASANT GROVE TOWNSHIP. 



587 



around ; Mr. Farris has carried on farm- 
ing and nursery business very extensively, 
and has still a great variety of trees yet 
on hand ; he has put in over 4,000 rods 
of tiling on his own land in the last few 
years; raised at one time 1G2 bushels of 
grain on one acre of land. 

BENJAMIN G. GLENN, farmer, Sec. 
17; P. 0. Mattoon ; owns sixty acres; 
was born in Lawrence Co., 111., June 10, 
1832, and lived with his parents until 23 
years of age. He was married to Elizabeth 
Jeft'ries March 22, 1855 ; she was born in 
Coles Co., 111., in 1834; died Feb. 19, 
1862. He was then married to Elizabeth 
Wheatstone March 19, 1869 ; she was 
born in Coles Co., 111., and has had six 
children, viz., Margaret E., Ethel L., 
Joseph J. ; three infants (deceased). Mr. 
Glenn was Justice of the Peace two years. 
Supervisor one term, and School Director 
six years. He was in the late war eighteen 
months, his regiment being the 5th I. V. 
C. ; he went out as private and was pro- 
moted to Sergeant Major and Captain ; his 
parents are natives of Kentucky. 

SAMES TILFORD GORDON, farmer, 
Sec. 13 ; P. 0. Larna ; owns seventy acres; 
was born in Coles Co., Ill, Oct. 14, 1832, 
and lived with his parents until 21 years 
of age. He was married to Sarah Jane 
Rogers June 5, 1855; she was born in 
Coles Co., 111., July 7, 1838 ; they have 
had nine children, viz., Mary M., Luella, 
Willie A., Sylvester, Lizzie, Laura M., 
Bundy and Maddora ; deceased — H. A. 
Mr. Gordon has been School Director 
eight years, and Commissioner of High- 
ways three years ; his father is a native of 
Virginia and his mother of North Caro- 
lina ; Mrs. Gordon's parents were natives 
of Alabama. 

ELI PERRY GORDON, farmer, Sec. 
24 ; P. 0. Campbell ; owns eighty acres ; 
was born in Coles Co., 111., March 30, 1839, 
and lived with his parents on the farm un- 
til married to Louisa Hays Nov. 28, 1859 ; 
she was born in Coles Co., 111., April 26, 
1841, and has had seven children, six of 
whom are living, viz., Charles W., Elme 
D., Byron R., Mary A., Clara B. and H. 
Clay ; deceased — Cora E. Mr. Gordon 
was Collector in this township two terms, 
Pathmaster two terms and School Director 
six years. He was in Co. E, 5th I. V. I., 
and served nineteen months in the late war. 



when he was mustered out by general 
order. 

JAMES C. GRAY, farmer, deceased, 
Larna ; was born in Washington Co., 
Tenn., Nov. 18, 1818; lived with his 
parents on the farm until 30 years of 
age, engaging with his father in farming 
until he married Mary A. Mitchell Nov. 
9, 1848 ; she was born in Marshall County, 
Tenn., May 30, 1828; they have had 
nine children — Robert M., David L., Mary, 
Alexander D., William N., John H., Lizzie 
J., Naomi R., and Charles. Mr. Gray 
held the office of Road Commissioner two 
terms, was Constable two years and Town 
Clerk one term. Mr. Robert Gray is County 
Attorney, and held the officeof City Attor- 
ney. Mr. A. Gray is Collector in this 
township at present. 

GEORGE HALBROOKS, M. D., 
physician, Sec. 23, Larna ; owns 160 acres; 
was born in Gibson Co., Ind., Feb. 14, 
1814, and lived with his parents on th& 
fiirm until 24 years of age ; was then mar- 
ried to Eliza Ann Beefs Feb. 22, 1838; 
she was born in Gibson Co., Ind., Aug. 18, 
1817, and has had nine children, viz., 
Sylvester, William H., Nancy E., Thomas, 
Samuel and George A.; deceased, Colum- 
bus, Catharine and George L. Dr. Hal- 
brooks was Surgeon for six months in the 
late war ; he commenced the study of 
medicine in 1842, and has been practicing 
ever since ; he has been practicing in this 
county twenty-seven years, and has a very 
extensive practice, and been very successful. 

JAMES L. HACKLEY, farmer, Sec. 
10 ; P. 0. Mattoon ; owns seventy-four 
acres ; was born in Grayson Co., Ivy., Nov. 
25, 1842, and lived with his parents on 
the farm until 1855, when he came with 
parents to this county in 1856, where he 
has since resided. He was married Feb. 
14, 1867, to Martha Jeifries ; she was 
born in Coles Co., 111., Jan. 28, 1847, and 
has five children — -Katie, Emma, Olga, 
Harden, Oren ; Mr. Hackley has been 
School Director six years, and Overseer of 
roads two years in this township ; Mr. 
Hackley's parents were natives of Ken- 
tucky ; Mrs. Hackley's father was a native 
of Kentucky, and her mother of Virginia. 

J. W. HILL, farmer and stock-dealer, 
deceased ; deceased owned 342 acres ; 
was born in Washington Co., Va., May 
7, 1814; died March 13, 1875; he 



588 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



lived with his parents on the farm until 
20 years of age. He was married to Eliz- 
abeth Fudge Feb. 28, 1833; she was born 
in Washington Co., Va., Jan. 15, 1814; 
they had twelve children — Barbara A., 
Samuel H., Benjamin R., Noah W., Eliz- 
abeth, Zachariah T., Emma, Jonah, Napo- 
leon and three infants, deceased ; Jonah 
Hill was born in Coles Co., 111., April 22, 
1853, and lived with his father until 21 
years of age. He then married Mattie A. 
Barr Oct. 17, 1878; she was born in 
Coles Co., 111., Jan. 0, 1864. Mr. J. W. 
Hill commenced business on the farm 
where he died, in this township, with only 
S2.50, and in a few years of industry 
and economy, he accumulated and left at 
his death a lan^e amount of property. 

AVILLIAM'^ F. HORTON, farmer, 
Sec. 17 ; P. 0. Mattoon ; owns 231 ' acres ; 
was born in Bedford Co., Penn., Jan. 31, 
1824; moved to this county with his par- 
ents in 1837 ; went to Cumberland Co., in 
1838, and returned to Coles Co. in Novem- 
ber, 1861, where he has since resided. He 
was married to Emeline Dryden Feb. 1, 
1849; she was born in Tennessee Sept. 15, 
1821, and has had seven children, two of 
whom are living, viz., Mary E. and Will- 
iam D. ; deceased are R. H., Alice, 
Amarintha and two inflmts not named. 
Mr. Horton has been School Director and 
Pathmaster several years, and was one of 
the first and most extensive manufacturers 
of sorghum molasses in this county, and 
has been in the business for twenty years. 
Mr. Horton's parents are natives of Penn- 
sylvania, and Mrs. Horton's, uf Tennes- 
see. 

JAMES JEFFRIS, former. Sec. 7; 
P. 0. Mattoon ; owns 240 acres ; was 
born in Grayson Co., Ky., March 17, 
1821 ; moved to this county with his par- 
ents when 10 years of age, and lived with 
them until married to Matilda Jane John- 
ston, Oct. 6, 1842 ; she was born in Rus- 
sell Co., Va., Nov. 28, 1822, and has had 
eleven children, six of whom are living, 
viz., Mary E., Martha, Johnston, Stc]ihen 
D., Joanna and Kitty C. ; deceased — G. D., 
Leah, S. M.and two infants. Mr. Jeffris 
was Constable four years. School Director 
five years and School Trustee twenty years ; 
his father is a native of Virginia and his 
mother of Tennessee ; Mrs. Jetfris' par- 
ents are natives of Virginia. 



JOHN JEFFRIS, farmer, Sec. 10 ; 
P. 0. Mattoon; owns 340 acres; was 
born in Coles Co., 111., Jan. 26, 
1831, and lived with his parents on 
the farm in this township until 2 1 years 
of age ; then went to California, returned 
and was married to Mary Vandierer, JIarch 
22, 1859 ; she was born in Indiana March 
1, 1836. They have five children, viz., 
Ralph, Bell, Hershel, Isaac and Abba. 
Mr. Jeifries was School Director for nine 
years. His parents were natives of Vir- 
ginia and Mrs. Jeifries' parents natives 
of Kentucky. 

JOHN GAUNT JEFFRIS, farmer, Sec. 
16; P. 0. Johnstown; owns ninety-three 
acres; was born in Coles Co., 111., March 
10, 1836, and lived with his parents on 
the farm until 30 years of age. He was 
married Aug. 12, 1866, to Rachel Ellen 
Miller, who was born in Coles Co., 111., 
Oct. 18, 1849. They have had seven chil- 
dren, viz., Margaret E., Mary B., Anna L., 
Robert W., Henry S., Oscar M. and Mat- 
tie B. Mr. Jefl'ris has been School Director 
one term. Mr. and Mrs. Jefiris' parents 
are natives of Kentucky. 

AZARIAH JEFFRIS, farmer. Sec. 
15 ; P. 0. Mattoon; owns 660 acres; was 
born in Coles Co., 111., April 29, 1836, and 
lived with his parents on the farm in this 
county until 24 years of age. Was married 
March 10, 1860, to Ann M. Hackley, who 
was born in Grayson Co., Ky., March 2, 
1841, and moved on the farm where he 
now resides. Mr. Jefiries has three chil- 
dren, viz., Zaraba, Shelton and Jiaura. Has 
been Commissioner of Highways three 
years in this township, School Tru.stee three 
years, School Director nine years. Repre- 
sentative of Coles Co., 111., one term. Su- 
pervisor of this township two terms in 
1875, 1876, 1878 and 1879, and was Fore- 
man of the grand jury two sessions. His 
father was a native of Virginia and his 
mother of Tennessee. Mrs. Jeifris' par- 
ents were natives of Kentucky. 

LARB KELLY, farmer. Sec. 2 ; P. 0. 
Charleston ; owns 300 acres. Mr. Kelly 
lived with his parents, engaging with his 
father in farming until 20 years of age. 
Mr. Kelly was married to Mary L. Sulli- 
van about the year 1848 ; she was bom in 
Coles Co., 111., in 1830 ; died in 1858. The 
fruit of this marriage w^as two children — 
Lura A. and Sarah E., deceased. He was 



PLEASANT GROVE TOWNSHIP. 



589 



then married to Sarah F. Sullivan, in 
I860;, she was born in Coles Co., 111. 
The fruit of this marriage was six children 
— Susan, Elso J. and Larbia ; deceased, 
Mary M., Samuel V. and one infant. Mr. 
Kelly has held the office of School Direct- 
or three years. Mr. J. Kellj', his father, 
was in the Black Hawk war. Mr. Kelly's 
parents are natives of Kentucky, and 
Mrs. Kelly's natives of Tennessee. Mr. 
Kelly is regarded as a public benefactor by 
all who know him. His farm is in excel- 
lent condition, well cultivated, with good 
buildings on same. 

CHARLES E. LEITCH, farmer. Sec. 
2 ; P. 0. Charleston ; owns 1 17 acres ; was 
born in Chillicothe, Ohio, April 16, 1836 ; 
resided with his parents on the farm until 
22 years of age. He was married to 
Mahalia Baker March 18, 1858 ; she was 
born in Highland Co., Va., Dec. 19, 1837. 
Mr. Leitch has seven children living and 
two dead ; the names of the living are 
Lizzie, Grant, John, Charles E., Jacob, 
Samuel and Allen ; the deceased were two 
infants. Mr. Leitch has held the office of 
School Director ten years ; he now holds 
the offices of School Trustee and Road 
Commissioner. Mr. Leitch's father was 
Captain of a company of State militia in 
this county in an early day. 

SAMUEL L. MORRIS, farmer and 
stock-dealer. Sec. S ; P. 0. Mattoon ; 
owns eighty acres ; was born in Logan Co., 
Ohio, April 3, 1855, and lived with his 
parents on the farm until he married 
Phoebe C. Lucas, Feb. 12, 1875 ; she was 
born in Logan Co., 111., Oct. 16, 1857 ; 
they have one child — Rosetta. His 
parents are natives of Ohio ; Mrs. Mor- 
ris's father is a native of Ohio. 

WILY MATTHEWS, f\irmer. Sec. 21 ; 
P. 0. Johnstown ; owns forty acres ; was 
born in Morgan Co., Ind.. June 27, 1842, 
and lived with his parents on the farm 
until the year 1859, when he came to this 
county and has resided here since. He 
was married Oct. 27, 1863, to Margaret 
Jackson ; she was born in Owens Co.. Ind., 
Oct. 17, 1844, died Jan. 1, 1871.' He 
then married Eliza T. Balch Aug. 13, 
1871 ; she was born in Madison Cp., 
Miss., Jan. 15, 1857, and has had seven 
children, six of whom are living, viz., Os- 
car M., Lizzie, Gary, Esther M., Gertrude 
and Mary A. Mr. Matthews has been As- 



sessor in this township two terms. He 
was in the late war three years, and subse- 
quently in the hundred-day service. 

J. L. F. MILLER, farmer and stock- 
dealer, Sec. 9 ; P. 0. Mattoon ; owns 337 
acres ; was born in Trimble Co., Ky., Jan. 
9, 1829, and engaged with his father in 
farming until 23 years of age. He was 
married to Rachel P. Gray Nov. 27, 1857 ; 
she was born in Tennessee April 19, 1829, 
died May 2, 1860 ; the fruit of this mar- 
riage was two children — George L. and 
Rachel E. Mr. Miller then married Mary 
J. Romine Feb. 25, 1866; she was born 
in Vigo Co., Ind., July 3, 1841 ; the fruit 
of this marriage is eight children — Lola, 
Mattie, Clara, Mary T., Bertha, Katie and 
Clinton, and one infant deceased. Mr. 
Miller commenced with but little property 
and by his honesty, industry and econ- 
omy has accumulated considerable prop- 
erty. 

CEPHAS MILLER, farmer. See. 3 ; 
P. 0. Mattoon ; was born in Coles Co., 
111., Nov. 6, 1852 ; engaged with his 
father in farming, until he married Alice 
Denman, Feb. 19, 1873 ; she was born in 
Jasper Co., 111., Dec. 19, 1852 ; they have 
had three children, viz. : Santa Clara, she 
was born Jan. 7, 1874 ; Denman, was 
born July 16, 1875, died Nov. 20, 1877 ; 
Katie, born Dec. 3, 1877. Mrs. Miller's 
father was in the late war ; enlisted in the 
97th I. V. C. ; served three months. Mr. 
Miller's father, J. W. Miller, is one of the 
largest landholders in the township. Mrs. 
Miller's father, J. B. Denman, was killed 
in the city of Charleston by a horse run- 
ning away. 

JOHN W. MILLER, farmer and stock- 
dealer, Sec. 1 ; P. 0. Charleston ; owns 
800 acres, worth -840 per acre ; he was 
born in Trimble Co., Ky., March 13, 1825 ; 
he lived in Kentucky until 12 years of 
age ; then emigrated to Coles Co., 111., 
where he lived with his father on the farm ; 
engaged in farming until he married 
Rebecca A. Tremble, June 26, 1851 ; she 
was born in Harrison Co., Ind., July 15, 
1828 ; the fruit of this marriage was eight 
children, five living and three dead ; the 
names of the living are Cephas, Horana, 
Armactha, John and James; the names 
of the deceased are George, Elizabeth and 
Quitman. Mr. Miller went to California 
in 1849, returning in 1851 ; he also went 



590 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



to Pike's Peak ; he is highly respected in 
his neitjhborhood. 

PATRICK NICHOLSON, farmer, Sec. 
12 ; P. O. Charleston ; owns 380 acres 
was born in Jefferson Co., Tenn., Nov. 6, 
1809 ; resided with parents on farm, helping 
his father until 21 years of age; came 
to this State in November, 1830, to what 
is now Douglas Co. ; Mr. N. made several 
thousand rails for $1 per hundred ; worked 
six months for S8 per mouth ; had nothing 
but one saddle-mare ; sold mare and saddle 
and bridle for $8. Was married to Eliza- 
beth Ashmore, May 17, 1832 ; she was 
born in Jefferson Co., Tenn., March 4, 1814 ; 
they are the parents of eleven children, 
seven living ; Patrena A. (now widow of 
James Raich, deceased), William A., Dor- 
otha (now Mrs. F. A. Endsley, of Green- 
up), Harriet N., Albert B., Margaret M. 
(now wife of Thomas Newman, of Hickory 
Tp.j, Ella E.; deceased — Joseph B., born 
May 30, 1833, died May 24, 1873; James 
M.. born March 20, 1841, died March 28, 
1847; Mary P. C, born Mar. 6, 1839, 
died June 4, ]S('A; Amos E., born May 
8, 1845, died while in 5th Illinois Cavalry, 
in the foil of 1863. Mr. N. has held of- 
fice of Supervisor of Township one term ; he 
was one of the early settlers of this county, 
and bore his part in the hardships of those 
days. He commenced in this township 
with almost nothing ; has by hard labor, 
economy and industry accumulated several 
thousand dollars worth of property. For 
benevolent purjioses his gifts have averaged 
about S 1 OU a year for forty years, for church 
and missionary objects ; he is a man much 
respected in the community where he resides. 

ALBERT H. ODELL, former, Sec. 9 ; 
P. 0. Mattoon ; owns eighty acres ; was 
born in Coles Co., 111., Aug. 5, 1844, 
and lived with his parents on the form in 
this county until married Sept. 9, 1874, to 
Louisa E. Miller, who was born in Coles 
Co., 111., Oet. 8, 1849; they have three 
children — Lola A., Milla M. and Gertrude. 
Mr. Odell was Township Collector two 
terms. He was also in the late war four 
months. Mr. Odell's father was in the 
Black Hawk war, and also in the late war 
four months. Mr. Odell's eldest brother 
was the first child burn in the city of 
Charleston, Coles Co., 111. Mr. Odell's pa- 
rents were natives of Tennessee, and Mrs. 
Odell's of Kentucky. 



FRANCIS POPHAM, farmer and 
stock-dealer, Sec. 10 ; P. 0. Campbell ; 
was born in Knox Co., Ohio, June2, 1838; 
lived with his parents on the form ; en- 
gaged in farming until married to Sarah 
E. Babbs, Dec. 11, 18(52; she was born 
in Knox Co., Ohio, Dec. 8, 1844; the 
fruit of their marriage has been four 
children — William C, Fred D., Minnie 
A. and Clarence E. Mr. P. owns 100 
acres of excellent river-bottom land, which 
he farms ; he also deals largely in horses ; 
he is a very liberal-hearted man, and re- 
spected by all who know him. 

CARSON PORTER REED ROD- 
GERS, merchant, Farmington ; P. 0. 
Campbell ; the subject of this sketch was 
born in Coles Co., "ill., Nov. 1, 1840, and 
lived with his parents until 26 years of 
age. He then married Catharine Winford 
Richey Oct. 30, 1866, who was born in 
Gallatin Co., Ky., Oct. 30, 1847, and died 
April 14, 1869 ; he afterward married 
Martha Jane Veatch March 8, 1874, who 
was born in Washington Co., 111., Oct. 26, 
1837, and has had three children, two of 
whom are living, viz., Isaac Walter, Kate 

Winford ; deceased Martha H. Mr. 

Rodgers was Assessor one term. Township 
Collector three terms. Supervisor one term 
and School Treasurer ten years. He is 
now in the mercantile business in Farm- 
ington and owns 100 acres in Cumberland 
Co., 111. 

JOHN WHITE RODGERS, farmer, 
Sec. 18; P. 0. Campbell; owns seventy 
acres; was born in Morgan Co., 111., Feb. 
10, 1831. and lived with his parents on the 
farm until 23 years of age. He was mar- 
ried to Margaret Elizabeth Gillinnater 
April 5, 1854 ; she was born in Effingham 
Co., 111., Jan. IS, 1836; they have had 
.six children, five of whom are living, viz., 
James F., Mary L., William B., Hiram M: 
and Henry G.; deceased — Isaac E. Mr. 
Rodgers was Overseer of the Road one 
term and was elected Justice of the Peace, 
which offi'.;e he now holds. His parents 
were natives of Kentucky ; hers, of Tenn- 
essee ; Mrs. Rodgers' father was in the 
Mexican war thirteen months. 

GEORGE THOMAS RODGERS, 
farmer, Sec. 20 ; P. 0. Campbell ; owns 
114 acres; was born in Coles Co., 111., Sept. 
13, 1849, and lived on the farm with his 
parents until married to Mary Ella Brunk 



PLEASAXT GROVE TOWNSHIP. 



591 



Wright Nov. 25, 1876; she was born in 
Coles Co., 111., Sept. 11, 1856 ; they have 
one child — -Mary Blanche. Mr. Rodgers' 
father is a native of Tennessee, and his 
mother of Indiana. Mrs. Rodgers' father 
is a native of New York, and her mother 
of Tennessee. Mr. Rodgers' father made 
the first brick ever layed in the city of 
Charleston, Coles Co., 111. 

JULIUS E. SMITH, farmer. Sec. 19; 
P. O. Etna ; owns the undivided fourth 
of eighty acres ; was born in Coles Co., 
111., Jan. 10, 1852, and lived with his 
parents on the farm until 20 years of age, 
when he married Louisa Woolery Oct. 2, 
1872; she was born in Putnam Co., Ind., 
July 19, 1856 ; they have three children 
— Mina L., Edna 0. .and lieorge M. Mr. 
Smith has been School Director two years. 
His parents were natives of Pennsylvania, 
and Mrs. Smith's of Indiana. 

ISAAC TAYLOR, farmer, See. 20 ; P. 
(). Campbell ; was born in Rutherford Co., 
Tenn., March 16, 1829, and lived with his 
father on the farm, engaged with his 
parents in farming until married to Eliza J. 
Erwin April 12, 1860 ; she was born in 
Coles Co., 111., Oct. 5, 1841 ; they have 
eight children, viz., Marian W., Willie E., 
Oscar E., Margaret E., Perry S., Isaac V., 
Balas B. and Cary A. Mr. Taylor was 
School Director fifteen years and has held 
the office of Assessor one term. He is a 
Primitive Baptist. Mr. Taylor is liked by 
all who have the pleasure of his acquaint- 
ance, and is a minister of considerable 
ability, livinu; up to what he preaches. 

J()NATHAN WILSON WALKER, 
farmer and stock-dealer, Sec. 21 ; P. 0. 
Mattoon ; owns 400 acres ; was born in 
Bedford Co., Tenn., July 26, 1828 ; lived 
with his parents on the farm until 27 
years of age. Married April 8, 1857, to 
Mary Sell ; she was born in Preble Co., 
Ohio, March 8, 1831, and has had six 
children, five of whom are living — Joseph 
W., James A., Emma 0., Mary I. and 
Sarah E. Mr. Walker has been School 
Director ten years and School Trustee five 
years. His father is a native of North 
Carolina and his mother ot Virginia ; Mrs. 
Walker's father is a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, and her mother of Ohio. 

AMZI ALEXANDER WALKER, 
farmer. Sec. 14 ; P. 0. Larna ; owns 240 
acres; he was born in Bedford Co., Tenn., 



May 2, 1830, and lived with his mother 
on the farm until 23 years of age. He 
married Elizabeth Johnston April 21, 
1853, who was born in Coles Co., 111., Sept. 
29, 1823, and moved on to the farm where 
he now resides ; they have had five chil- 
dren, three of whom are living, viz., Nancy 
M., William I. and Mail E.; deceased — I. 
C. and one infant. Mr. Walker was 
elected Justice of the Peace one term, 
when he resigned and was School Director 
six years. He has in his possession a let- 
ter written by his grandfather (Josiah 
Walker) to James Walker, bearing date 
1802, and written in North Carolina. 

JOHN CRAIG WHITE, farmer and 
blacksmith. Sec. 15; P. 0. Campbell; 
owns 120 acres; was born in Scott Co., 
Ky., Dec. 5, 1830, and lived with his par- 
ents on the farm until 19 years of age. He 
was married to Louisa Beckum Feb. 25, 
1855; she Was born in Coles Co., 111., 
Feb. 25, 1836; died Aug. 10, 1859; he 
then married Sarah Elizabeth Kemper 
May 8, 1862 ; she was born in Fayette Co., 
Ky., .Jan. 10, 1883, and has had eight 
children, viz., John I., Katie, Edward and 
Coleman ; deceased — Ida F., Charles, 
George 0., Sarah A. Mr. and Mrs. 
White's parents are natives of Kentucky. 

ISAAC WHITE, farmer. Sec. 19; 
P. 0. Mattoon ; owns 120 acres; was born 
in Clark Co., Ohio, Nov. 12, 1819 ; lived 
with his parents on the farm until 23 
years of age. He married Mary Lay- 
bourn Nov. 5, 1843; she was born in 
Clark Co., Ohio, Feb. 10, 1825; they 
have had eight children, seven of whom 
are living, viz., Sarah E., William B., 
Frances F., Charles H., James P., Alice 
I. and Flora 0., and Amos H., deceased. 
Mr. White was Township Trustee seven 
years, and School Director four years. 
His parents are natives of Ohio; Mrs. 
White's father was English and her 
mother a native of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. 
White are both Cumberland Presbyte- 
rians. 

MONROE WHITE, farmer. Sec. 10; 
P. 0. Charleston ; owns 238 acres ; was 
born in Coles Co., 111., Aug. 9, 1844, and 
lived with his parents on the farm ; en- 
gaged with his father in fafming until 21 
years of age. He was married to Mary 
E. Hall, Nov. 16, 1865 ; she waaiborn in 
Coles Co., 111., Aug. 28, 1848; they have 



592 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



four children — Sarah F., Hannah A., Mil- 
lie E. and Lucy E. Mr. White has held 
the oflSce of School Director five years. 
Mr. White's parents are natives of Ohio, 
and Mrs. White's, natives of Kentucky. 

DAVID BEELS WILLIAMS, farm- 
er, Sec. 23 ; P. 0. Johnstown ; owns 
fifty-five acres; was born in Coles Co., 111.. 
March 25, 1836, and lived with his par- 
ents on the farm until 21 years of age. 
He was married to Pha^be Landrus Nov. 
13, 1850, who was born in Crawford Co., 
Ind., Feb. 14, 1837, who has had ei<;ht 
children, six of whom are living, viz, 
Lewis W., Christopher C, Flora E., 
Henry S., Emma F. and Eduiond C; de- 
ceased, L. W. and L. M. Mr. Williams 
was Overseer of the Koad two terms, 
elected Constable two terms, Justice of 
the Peace one term, and School Director 
two terms. He was a volunteer in Com- 
pany H, 123d I. V. I., who were in the 
late war in 1862 (afterward mounted) ; 



served six months and was discharged in 
consequence of disability ; re-enlisted 
March, 1864, and served eighteen months, 
and was mustered out by general order. 

GEORGE A. WHITNEY, farmer. 
See. 3 ; P. O. Mattoon ; owns thirty-six 
acres ; was born in the State of Wiscon- 
sin Sept. 4, 1854; lived with hi.s parents 
on the farm until 2<l years of age. Was 
then married to Emma D. Hill, May 10, 
1874; she was born in Coles Co., 111., 
June 7, 1852. Mr. Whitney's parents 
are natives of York State, and Mrs. Whit- 
ney's, natives of Virginia. Mr. Whitney's 
father was one of the early settlers of this 
county, and one of the men who helped to 
change this country from a wilderness to 
its present condition of prosperity. Mrs. 
Whitney's father (Mr. Jas. W. Hill) was 
also one of the early settlers of this town- 
ship, coming to this township with imly 
§2.50, and leaving at his death about S20,- 
000 worth of property. 



ASHMORE TOWNSHIP. 



HEZEKIAH J. ASHMORE, de- 
ceased, late of Ashmore, and for whom 
the township and village was named, was 
born in Kentucky Sept. 30, 1802; he 
was a son of Samuel and Letitia (Guthrie) 
Ashmore ; his parents removed to Mur- 
ray Co., Tenn., when he was a child, and 
when he was about 12 years old to Illinois, 
settling on the Wabash River, about twelve 
miles south of Terre Haute. He was 
married May 24, 1825, to Miss J]lizabeth 
Black, a daughter of John Black ; she 
was born in Muhlenburg Co., Ky., Dec. 
10, 1807, and came at the age of 4 years 
to the then Territory of Illinois. About the 
year 1828 he removed to Vermilion Co., 
where he remained till February 1831, 
when he removed to Coles Co. His mother 
had died several years before in the Wabash 
country, and his father having married 
Miss Ruth Cowan, had removed in 1829 
to Coles Co. and settled in what is now 
East Oakland Tp., where he died in 1836, 
and his wife some four years afterward. Mr. 
Ashmore also located in the same town- 
ship, aiiid putting up a log cabin as he had 
done twice before, he began to open a 



farm ; after a residence there of about five 
years, he sold his farm, and removing to a 
point about two and a h.ilf miles north- 
west of the present village of Ashmore ; 
he purchased a large tract of land, and 
became the largest land-owner in the 
township, owning at one time some 1,600 
acres ; he engaged largely in stock-raising, 
and continued that during his residence 
on the farm ; he laid ott" a jiart of the vil- 
lage of Ashmore in 1855 ; in 1866, he 
retired from the fiirm and removing to the 
village, there resided till his death, Dec. 9. 
1872, at the age of 70 years; he left a 
family often children, viz. : Samuel C, of 
Ashmore ; James M., of Charleston ; Mar- 
tha J., wife of Rodney A. Phelps, of Kan- 
sas ; Hezekiah M., of Charleston; Sarah 
C, wife of Jacob Zimmerman, of Ash- 
more ; Elizabeth S., wife of I. N. Van 
Dyke, of Charleston ; Rebecca, wife of 
William P. Ferriss, of Decatur, 111. ; Or- 
lando F., of Ashmore; Mary M., wife of 
Jacob Collom, of Paris, 111. ; and Harvey 
B., of Ashmore. Mr. Ashmore held sev- 
eral offices of public trust, among which 
may be mentioned that of Justice of the 



ASHMORE TOWNSHIP. 



593 



Peace, for several years, Constable and 
County Commissioner. He was a man of 
enterprise and unusual business ability, 
and a liberal supporter of cliurches, 
schools, and whatever pertained to the 
public welfare. 

ORLANDO F. ASHMORE, son of 
Hezekiah and Elizabeth Ashmore, was 
born about two and a half miles northwest 
of the village of Ashmore, June 10, 1845. 
He was raised on the farm until he was of 
age, and then engaged in the grocery busi- 
ness in A.shmore, and has been engaged 
alternately in the grocery and dry goods 
business until a short time ago. He was 
married Oct. 12, 1865, to Miss Margaret 
J. Barnett, a daughter of James Barnett of 
Lincoln Co., Ky. She was born near 
Stanford, in that county, Nov. 27, 1842. 
They have had five children, three of whom 
are living. Ores L., Iva E. and Emma B. 

HARVEY B. ASHMORE, farmer 
and stock-raiser; P.O. Ashmore; was born 
in this township Nov. 1, 1849, being a son 
of Hezekiah J. and Elizabeth Ashmore. 
When about 15 years old, he engaged 
in mercantile business in Ashmore, in 
which he continued about two years. He 
then engaged in dealing in stock, which 
he has followed ever since. In 1871, he 
settled on hLs present farm adjoining the 
village of A.shmore, containing 510 acres 
of land, with fine improvements. He also 
owns another farm of 80 acres two and a 
half miles northwest of the village. Mr. 
Ashmore is largely engaged in stock rais- 
ing, feeding not less than 500 hogs, and 
from 100 to 200 cattle annually !^ He 
makes a specialty of Poland-China hogs 
of which he ships a large number every 
year. He was married Nov. 16, 1870, to 
Miss Emma J. Carter, a daughter of Jdin 
L. Carter, of Oakland. She is a native 
of Gallia Co., Ohio. They have five 
children — Herbert K., Leon B., Leftridge 
L. and Lloyd C. The youngest, a daugh- 
ter, is not named at the present writing. 

WILLIAM F. AUSTIN, of the firm 
of Austin, Brown & Kimball, dealers in 
hardware, lumber, agricultural implements, 
furniture, etc. ; P. 0. Ashmore ; is a 
native of Coles Co., being a son of 
John and Susan (Carter) Austin; his 
father was born near Nashville, Tenn., 
Sept. 9, 1809, and came with his father's 
family to the county in about 1828; 



his father, William Austin, took up a 
fiirm, comprising the site of the present 
village of Ashmore. Mr. Austin was mar- 
ried Oct. 15, 1835, to Miss Susan Carter, 
a daughter of John and Mary Carter, both 
natives of East Tennessee ; she was born 
in East Tennessee Sept. 24, 1815 ; re- 
moved with her parents to Kentucky in 
early childhood, and came to Coles Co., in 
1830, landing in Ashmore April 10, where 
her father took up a farm east of and 
adjoining the present village, and where 
Mrs. Austin still resides ; Mrs. Austin's 
father, John Carter, was born in 1790, and 
died July 19, 1841 ; her mother, Mary 
Carter, was born Dec. 24, 1792, and died 
Nov. 11, 1857 ; Mr. Austin remained a 
substantial and highly-respected citizen till 
his death, Sept. 9, 1845 ; he left five chil- 
dren — James M., born March 13, 1837, 
and died July 23, 1866 ; Mary C., now 
Mrs. Thomas White, of Ashmore, born 
Aug. 13, 1838; William F., born Nov. 
12, 1840 ; Edith, born Sept. 22, 1842, 
married P. M. Waters, of Ashmore, and 
died Jan. 4, 1802 ; Thomas, born Oct. 10, 
1844. William F. Austin remained on 
the homestead until the age of 22, and 
then engaged in the manufacture of wagons 
and carriages, in company with A. J. Wa- 
ters ; this he continued two years, after 
which he followed carpentering until he 
entered upon his present business in 1872. 
Mr. Austin has been a member of the vil- 
lage Council for the past five or six years. 
He was married Nov. 10, 1864, to Miss 
Mary A. Sousley, who was born in Ash- 
more Tp. Aug. 5, 1843; she is a daughter 
of David and Lucinda (Groves) Sousley, 
who were among the early settlers of the 
county; her fatherwas born Sept. 1, 1816, 
came to Coles Co. with his parents in about 
the year 1832 and died Nov. 26, 1847. 
Mr. Austin has two sons — Alcephus L. 
and Thomas E. 

REV. STEPHEN J. BOVELL, Pas- 
tor of the Presbyterian Church, Ashmore ; 
was born in Washington Co., East 
Tenn-, May 27, 1827. His father. Rev. 
J. V. Bovell, was a native of Virginia; 
removed to Tennessee at an early age ; 
graduated at Washington College at the 
age of 20 years, and, when 26 years old, 
became President of that institution, and 
occupied the position three years. In 
June, 1829, he received a call to the Pres- 



594 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



byterian Church, in Paris, 111., and re- 
moved to that place, where he died but a 
few months afterward, leaving a wife and 
four children ; Mr. Bovell's mother, Chris- 
tiana Gray Bovell, was a native of Tennes- 
see, and now resides with her son ; in 
1835, the mother, with her family, re- 
moved to Coles Co., near Charleston'; Mr. 
Bovell remained on the farm until the age 
of 20, then, in 1847, returned to Paris, 
where he spent two years ;is a student in 
the Edgar Academy, then under the con- 
trol of Rev. H. R. Venable. In 1849, 
he entered Hanover College, where he 
graduated in 1852; he then went to Mis- 
sissippi and engaged in teaching, but at the 
end of one year, he received an attack of 
paralysis, which disabled him from work 
for a year and a half ; in the fall of 1854, he 
entered the New Albany Theological Semi- 
nary, where he spent one year, when, owing 
to a relapse of his former paralysis, he was 
obliged to discontinue his studies ; recov- 
ering partially in the spring of 1856, he 
engaged, by the advice of his physician, 
in farming, which he continued two years ; 
he then went to Palestine, 111., where he 
taught for eight years, pursuing his theo- 
logical studies iUjthe mean time ; he was 
licensed to preach in April, 1861, and or- 
dained in April, 1865; he came to Ash- 
more the same year, and, in 1869, was 
elected Superintendent of Schools of Coles 
Co., holding that office four years. He 
was married March 6, 1856, to Miss Mar- 
tha J. Howe, of Flemingsburg, Ky., 
and has two children living — Henry P. 
and Luella. 

JOBE \V. BROWN, retired, A.shmore; 
this gentleman was born in Chatham, Mid- 
dlesex Co., Conn., July 15, ISUil ; his 
father was Jonathan W. Brown, and his 
mother's maiden name was illizabeth 
Aiken, the former being a native of Con- 
necticut, and the latter of the island of 
Nantucket ; when he was but a child, his 
parents removed to Oneida Co., N. Y., 
thence to Milton, Ky., and in 1822 to 
Lawrence Co., 111.; in January, 1825, they 
removed to Walnut drove in Edgar Co., 
then on the very outskirts of civilization ; 
at that time there was not a single white 
inhabitant in the present limits of Coles 
Co.; his father resided there until his 
death June 17, 1867, at the age of 79 
years. In 1840, Mr. Brown removed to 



Ashmore Tp., where he had entered eighty 
acres of land, borrowing for that purpose 
SlOO; to illustrate the struggles of those 
early days, we may mention that Mr. Brown 
was thirteen years in taking up this first 
note ; he has hauled wheat to Chicago, 
taking his provisions and horse feed along 
with him, and sleeping in his wagon at 
night ; the journey occupied sixteen days, 
and on arriving there, has sold his wheat 
at 50 cents a bushel. In 1838, he, with 
his father and brother, took a contract to 
build two sections of the old Terre Haute 
& Alton R. R., which they completed in 
1840. Mr. Brown added to his fiirm until 
he owned at one time 400 acres, a part of 
which he still retains ; in January, 1877, 
he removed to the village of Ashmore, 
where he now lives in the quiet enjoy- 
ment of the fruits of his years of toil. 
He was married Jan. 1, 1833, to Miss 
Martha R. Archer, who was born in Bour- 
bon Co., Ky., March 4, 1808, and was 
raised in Bloomington, Ind ; of twelve 
children, eleven grew to adult age, viz.- 
Warren E., Mary E., wife of Nelson Green ; 
Eliza J., now Mrs. Wm. P. Green ; George 
A., Jerome A., Lucy A., now deceased : 
Sarah R., wife of James Wiley ; Caroline 
A., wife of A. J. Waters; MelLssa E., wife 
of Robert Mayfield ; Henrietta M., wife of 
Richard Waters; Susan M., now Mrs. 
Thomas Sublet; of the ten now living, all 
are residents of Coles Co., except Warren 
E., who is a physician in Andrew Co., 
Mo. Mr. Brown has served seven years 
as Justice of the Peace, and one year as 
Supervisor ; he was an officer of the Coles 
County Agricultural Society for several 
years. 

GEORGE A. BROWN, dealer in hard- 
ware, lumber, furniture, etc. ( firm of Aus- 
tin, Brown & Kimball), Ashmore; was 
born at the Walnut Grove, in Edgar Co., III. 
Oct. 17, 1837 ; he came with his parents. 
Job Wn and Martha R. Brown, to Coles 
Co. in 1840 ; he remained on the farm 
until the age of 23 years, receiving his 
education in the little log schoolhouse in 
the neighborhood ; after arriving at age, 
he taught school one winter; at 23, he 
engaged in contracting and building in 
Asiuuiire, building most of the village, in- 
cluding the Methodist Churoli and many 
of the business houses and private dwell- 
ings ; also helped to build the Presbyterian 



ASHMORE TOWNSHIP. 



595 



Church. Among the business houses may 
be mentioned those of Austin, Brown & 
Kimball, F. M. Waters, Thomas O'Brien, 
Dr. Robertson, Joshua Ricketts, A. J. & 
R. Waters & Co., etc.; in 1872, he en- 
gaged in the lumber business, Mr. W. F. 
Austin afterward becoming a partner ; 
they added hardware, undertaking, furni- 
ture, etc.; in 1875, Mr. W. C. Kimball 
became a member of the firm. Mr. Brown 
has been a member and President of the 
Board of Trustees and the Board of Edu- 
cation a number of years ; he is at present 
Treasurer of the Board of Trustees. He 
wa.s married Jan. 25, 1861, to Miss Arden 
O'Brien, a daughter of the late John 
O'Brien, of Ashmore ; they have three 
children — Walter M., Owen E. and Job W. 
WM. H. BROWN, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. O. A,«hmore ; was born in Oneida 
Co., N. Y., Jlarch 23, 1813, being a son 
of Jonathan W. and Elizabeth (Aiken) 
Brown, and accompanied his parents in 
their removal to Milton, Ky., to Lawrence 
Co., 111., and to the Walnut Grove, Edgar 
Co., in January, 1825. He remained at 
home until he was nearly 21, when he be- 
gan working on a farm ; he worked at va- 
rious employments in different places until 
he was married, Nov. 4, 1835, to Miss 
Elizabeth McGhan, of Clark Co. ; he 
then settled on a farm in Clark Co. Dur- 
ing the summer of 1838, he was associated 
with his father and brother in grading a 
portion of the old Terre Haute & Alton 
Railroad. His wife died Sept. 14, 1838, 
leaving one son, William W., who, in the 
late war was Orderly Sergeant of Co. H, 
10th I. V. C, and was killed at the capt- 
ure of Little Rock, Ark. In the spring 
of 1839, Mr. Brown came to Coles CV, 
and on the 13th of June, 1839, married 
Mrs. Emily Buck, a daughter of John T. 
Olmsted, an old pioneer of Edgar Co*., set- 
tling in Grand View about 1828, and 
afterward came to Coles Co. Of nine 
children of this marriage, six are now liv- 
ing—John 0. (now a resident pf Charles- 
ton, Harriet, wife of James Bull, of Ed- 
gar Co.), Frederick, James H., Edwin W. 
and Francis A ; their eldest daughter, Mary 
Elizabeth, died April 19, 1849, at the a^e 
of Ti years ; Emma A. died Nov. lb, 
1870, at nearly 20 years of age ; George 
W. died March 15,'l862, at 16 years of 
age. Mr. Brown settled on his present 



farm in January, 1842, where he owns 
336 acres of laud well improved ; he began 
life a poor man, and by his industry, econ- 
omy and good management has acquired a 
comfortable fortune, and is considered one 
of the most substantial citizens of Coles 
Co. 

WILLIAM S. CHILDRESS, farmer 
and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Ashmore ; was born 
in Knox Co., East Tenn., April 11, 1827 ; he 
is a son of Richard and Rebecca Childress. 
In 1831, his father removed to Edgar Co., 
and settled just on the line between Illinois 
and Indiana. In 1848, Mr. Childress came 
to Coles Co., being the first of the fiimily 
to settle here, his father following in the 
spring of 1849 ; his father died about 
1862 ; his mother still survives, and now 
resides in Farmington, in Coles Co., at the 
age of 78 years. Mr. C. was married 
April 30, 1848, to Miss Temple A. Barnes, 
a daughter of Enos Barnes, one of the 
pioneers of the county; she died Sept. 17, 
1874, leaving nine children— Elizabeth J. 
(wife of Washington Moody, of Ashmore 
Tp.) ; Luoinda E. (wife of H. Ph. Good- 
night, of Ashmore Tp. ), Richard M., Re- 
becca A., Florence A., (wife of George 
Honn, of East Oakland Tp.), John F., 
William A., Melinda and Viola. A 
stranger, viewing Mr. Childre.ss' farm, 
comprising over 1,000 acres, his large and 
beautiful residence, his herds of over a 
hundred cattle, fifteen to twenty horses, 
a hundred and fifty sheep, and a hundred 
and twenty-five hogs, would find it difiicult 
to realize the hardships through which lie 
has passed in accumulating them. When 
he came to the county his total possessions 
would not amount to $200 ; he has chopped 
cordwood at 30 cents a cord, and made rails 
at 50 cents a hundred; he made about 
7,000 rails the first winter he spent in the 
county. To illustrate the gradual manner 
in which he has acquired his land, we give 
the following, showing the amount pur- 
chased at difterent times, and the price per 
acre. His first purchase was 110 acres, at 
$1.25 per acre; next 80 acres, of Govern- 
ment at SI. 25 per acre; then at intervals 
as follows; 40 acres at $15 per acre; 50 
acres, at $22 per acre; 40 acres at $17.50 
per acre; 80 acres, at $30 per acre; 120 
acres, at $25 per acre; 20 acres, at $40 per 
acre ; 20 acres, at $27.50 per acre ; 40 
acres, at $18.75 per acre ; 40 acres, at $40 



596 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



per acie; 40 acres at 88.75 per acre; -i'i'j 
acres, at $10 per acre ; 240 acres, at §20 
per acre ; 30 acres, for §50 in all, and 20 
acres at $10 per acre. He has made it a 
practice to buy but never sell, conse- 
quently all of his original purchases are 
still in his possession, and what is, perhaps, 
more remarkable, there never has been a 
mortgage on an acre of it. 3Ir. Childress 
was married a second time, Dec. 1, 1874, 
to Mrs. Nannie Shoemaker, a native of 
Kentucky. 

W. R. COMSTOCK, dealer in groceries, 
drugs, medicines, etc., Ashmore ; was born 
in Clark Co., 111., Feb. 1, 1850 ; he is a 
son of Levi and Lucy Comstock ; his father 
was born in Indiana, and his mother in 
Kentucky ; they both came to Illinois in 
childhood with their parents, who were 
among the early pioneers of the State ; 
when the subject of this sketch was about 
4 years of age, his father removed 
with his family to Coles Ctunty, and set- 
tled about three miles northeast of Ash- 
more village, where he still resides. Mr. 
Comstock remained on the farm until 
1872, after which he read medicine and 
attended one course of lectures in Rush 
Medical College, Chicago; in 1874, he 
engaged in his present business in Ash- 
more. He was married Nov. 2, 1876, to 
Miss Ella Hogue, a daughter of Thomas 
W. Hogue, of Ashmore. 

ELI DUDLEY, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. O. Ashmore ; was born in Coles 
Co. Jan. 17, 1840, being a son of Guil- 
ford and Mary ( Wilfiv) Dudley: to trace 
the genealogy of the Dudley family from 
its origin, it would be necessary to begin 
with the Earl of Dudley, of Dudley Cas- 
tle, in Staitbrdshire, England, in the four- 
teenth century, and follow down through a 
long line of earls, barons, etc.; this is not 
our purpose, but we can say that the 
genealogy is complete and authentic from 
that point to the subject of the present 
sketch ; the first of the family to come to 
America was Thomas Dudley, Governor of 
the province of Massachusetts Bay ; many 
of his descendants held prominent posi- 
tions in the early history of the country ; 
assisted in the struggle for independence, 
and are now leading citizens in various 
parts of the country ; the first to come to 
Coles Co. were tliree brothers — Moses, 
James and Guilford; Guilford Dudley was 



j born in Raymond, N. H., Dec. 7, 1795 ; 
the day he was 21,heleft home, and, going 
to Ohio, worked on a farm for a year ; then 
went to New Orleans, from which place he 
came to Coles Co., as early as 1825 or 
1826 ; he worked at first on his brother's 
farm, and afterward entered eighty acres of 
land. He was married in 1821) to Miss 
Mary Wiley, who was born in Lexington, 
Ky., April 22, 1812, and came to Coles 
Co. in 1828 ; putting up a log cabin on his 
farm, Mr. Dudley lived there till the fall 
of 183y, when he erected the frame house 
now occupied by his youngest son — J. 
Elbridge Dudley. He held the office of 
Justice ot the Peace a number of years, 
and also Township Treasurer several terms ; 
he was a quiet man, never seeking 
notoriety ; he followed farming till his 
health failed, when he opened a store on 
his farm, which he continued until the 
starting of Ashmore; he was a successful 
man, acquiring a handsome property and 
about 900 acres of land. He died in Feb- 
ruary, 1864, leaving nine children — Flor- 
ence (wife of James Routledge, of Doug- 
las Co.), Hannah (man'ied Jarrot Phelps, 
and died in 1866), John (now of Charles- 
ton), Eli, Elizabeth, Nancy J. (wife of S. 
H. Reed, of Douglas Co.), Philena S. 
(wife of Thomas Walton, of Ashmore), 
Moses G. (who died in June, 1868), and 
J. Elbridge (of Ashmore Tp). Eli Dud- 
ley was married Dec. 11. 1866, to Miss 
Margaret N. Brown, a daughter of Wm. 
E. Brown ; she was born in Madison, Jef- 
ferson Co., Ind., July 5, 1842; they have 
three children — Glcason A., JIary 0. and 
Gerry B. Mr. Dudley owns 400 acres of 
land, with a beautiful residence, and is 
quite lartrely engaged in stock-raisins. 

MRS. THURZA EPPERSON; P. 0. 
Westfield ; among the pioneers of Coles 
Co., who came in the year 18:54, was 
Green Epperson, who was born in Madison 
Co., Ky., about the year 1800. He was 
married Dec. 22, 1829, to Miss Thirza 
Woods, » daughter of Adam and Mary 
Woods ; she was also a native of Madison 
Co., Ky., born Dec. 6, 1807. After their 
marriage, they removed to Estill Co., Ky., 
thence to Clark Co., and fiom there to 
Coles Co., 111., in 1834, where they settled 
on the fiirm still in the hands of the fam- 
ily, and which contains 200 acres in the 

I home place, besides 80 acres in Clark Co. 



ASHMORE TOWNSHIP.l^ 



597 



Mr. Epperson was a tnan of integrity of [ 
character, industrious and economical in 
his habits, and possessed of the requisite 
qualifications of success, and, had he lived, 
would undoubtedly have become one of ] 
the wealthiest citizens of the county ; he ! 
died Jan. 29, 1850, leaving a wife, who 
still resides on the old homestead. Of a 
family of eleven children, nine are living, 
as follows : Brutus C, was born Oct. 27, ' 
1830, in Estill Co., Ky., and is now a 
flirmer in Bear Valley, Cal., to which 
State he removed in 1852; Cassius C., 
was born in Clark Co., Ky., June 24, 
1834, and also removed to California in 
1852, and is now a farmer in Sutter Co.; 
Sidney K., was born in Coles Co., 111., 
Jan. 28, 1836, served in the late war, en- 
listing in Co. H, 59th I. V. I., was pro- 
moted to Quartermaster, and is now a Gov- 
ernment Inspector at Omaha, Neb. ; 
Rhodes was born April 4, 1838, was a 
member of Co. A, 123d I. V. I., was 
wounded in the battle of Selma, Ala, and 
is niiw a farmer in Edgar Co., 111. ; Green 
was born May 2, 1840, removed to Cali- 
fornia in 1877, and is now engaged in 
farming in Bear Valley ; Mattie was borh 
Jan. 25, 1842, and is now wife of J. F. 
Lawson, of Mattoon, 111.; Joseph was 
born Oct. S, 1844, married Sept. 2, 1869, 
to Miss Mattie Morris, a daughter of i 
William Morris, of Edgar Co.; she was ' 
born in Kentucky Dec. 26, 1851, and 
died Dec. 3, 1875, leaving three children 
— John F., Thurza I. and Alvy G.; Mr. 
Epperson resides on the homestead ; Kate 
was horn April 6, 1848, and resides at 
home ; John C. was born in 1849, studied 
medicine, and went to California in 1875, 
graduated from the National Surgical In- 
stitute, in San Francisco, and is now a 
practicing physician in Weston, Oregon. 

B. J. FAERIS, farmer and stock-raiser ; 
P. 0. Westfield; was born in Edgar Co., 
111., March 24, 1831, being a son of James 
and Nancy Farris, who were among the 
earliest pioneers of that county. His 
father was born in Virgiuia, in the year 
1785; received a liberal education, being 
designed for the Presbyterian ministry, 
and leaving home at the age of 18, he 
went to Warren Co., Ohio, where he mar- 
ried Miss Nancy Downs, a native of 
South Carolina, born in 1799, and lived 
there till he came to Edgar Co. He 



was a soldier of the war of 1812 ; fought 
at Lundy's Lane and Chippewa, and was 
a witness of Perry's victory on Lake Erie. 
Arriving in Illinois be took up 640 acres 
of land in Edgar, Coles and Clark Coun- 
ties. He was a man of the strictest integ- 
rity, and dealt honestly with every man. 
He had a powerful constitution and was a 
hard worker. Although the son of a 
wealthy Virginia family, he never owned 
slaves ; was a Whig in politics and joined 
the Republican party on its oriianization. 
He was a stanch Union man during our 
late war, and the defeat of the Union army 
at the battle of Bull Run, which occurred 
during his last illness, greatly affected him. 
He died Sept. 27, 1861, leaving eight 
children ; his widow died Dec. 9, 1877. 
The subject of this sketch continued to re- 
side in Edgar Co. until he was married, 
Aug. 12, 1852, to Miss Mary J. Bishop, 
a daughter of John W. Bishop; she was 
born in Rush Co., Ind., Sept. 18, 1832, 
and first came to Clark Co., 111., when 
5 years of age. They have eight chil- 
dren : James, Sarah A., John W., Florence, 
George Grant, Albert, Benjamin F. and 
Ida. The year of his marriage, Mr. Farris 
removed to Coles Co., where he lived 
till March, 1876, and then removed to 
Nebraska. At the end of three months, 
however, he returned to Coles Co., and 
in 1877, purchased the farm of 120 acres 
where he now resides. 

ISAAC FLENNER, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Kansas ; was born in Butler 
Co., Ohio, Feb. 25, 1825; his flUher, 
Daniel Flenner, was among the pioneers of 
that State, coming from Maryland in 1809. 
He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and 
was a prominent citizen, holding many of- 
fices of trust in his county. His mother, 
Hannah (Andrews) Flenner, was a native 
of Ohio, and a descendant of an old Penu- 
sylvania family. Mr. Flenner removed to 
Coles Co., in 1856 ; his father remov- 
ing to Clark Co., 111., at the same time ; 
he purchased 200 acres of land and en- 
gaged in farming and stock-raising, and 
during the past five years has devoted his 
attention to fine stock, having, at present 
writing, thirty-nine head of thorough-bred 
short-horn cattle. He also makes a spe- 
cialty of the breeding of Berkshire hogs, 
of which he has seventy-five now on hand. 
He is one of the most thorough and sue- 



598 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



cessful farmers in the township. From 
the railroad, which passes a short distance 
in front of his residence, the view is most 
beautiful. His fine buildings, with the 
large yard set to evergreens and shrub- 
bery, the orchards of fruit of all kinds. 
the rolling prairie " Stretching in hillowy 
undulations far away" present a sight 
not surpassed in this part of the country. 
Mr. Flenner was married Sept. 30, 1847, 
to Miss Rachel A. Hughes, who was a na- 
tive of Maryland, but removed in early 
childhood to Butler Co., Ohio. She died 
in 1852, leaving two children, one of 
whom is living — Albert W. Flenner. Mr. 
Flenner was married a second time Jan. 
12, 1858, to Miss Hopy A. HoUingsworth, 
a daughter of Jacob HoUingsworth. Her 
father came to Illinois in 1830 and resided 
in Coles Co. till his death in 1875. 
They have one son living — Martin Flen- 
ner. 

ALBERT W. FLENNER, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Kansas ; was born in 
Butler Co.. Ohio, March 17, 1850, being 
a son of Isaac and Rachel A. (Hughes) 
Flenner; in 1856, he came with his fa- 
ther's family to Coles Co., his mother 
having died in 1852. He was raised on 
the farm, and on arriving at his majority, 
he purchased the farm of his uncle, M. B. 
Pleuuer, adjoining his father's place, and 
containing 160 acres of land, and he still 
resides there. He was married Jan. 17, 
1871, to Miss O'Kalla Breeding, the fifth 
daughter of Hutchinson and Elizabeth M. 
Breeding ; she was born in Edgai- Co., 
111., March 16. 1850; her parents came 
to Edgar Co. about thirty-six years ago ; 
her fiither died there in 1866, and after his 
death her mother removed with her fam- 
ily to Ashmore, and there lived till 1876, 
when she returned to Edgar Co. where 
she now resides. They have two chil- 
dren — Rachel Annie and Isaac B. Mr. 
Flenner has been a member and Clerk of 
the Board of School Directors for the jiast 
three years. 

J. H. GREEN, farmer and stock-raiser; 
P. 0. A.shmore ; was born in Miami Co., 
Ohio, Oct. 27, 1826 ; he is a son of James 
and Elizabeth (Heniinway) Green, both 
of whom were natives of King and Queen 
Co., Va. ; both removed to Kentucky 
when young, married and moved to Ohio; 
in 1840, his parents removed to Coles Co., 



but returned in a few years to Ohio ; Mr. 
Green removed permanently to the county 
in the fall of 1855, and settled on his 
present farm ; he purchased 1 20 acres of 
land, paying therefor $18 an acre ; he 
owed on this place, $1,500 ; he now owns 
513 acres of land, well improved, and is 
out of debt ; he keeps usually about 100 
head of cattle ; he owes his success in life 
to the fact that he has always been a tem- 
perance man, never drinking a glass of 
whisky or beer ; has always kept his 
agreements ; and when he promised to pay 
a man money, has paid it on the very day 
agreed upon. He was married on the 
12th of October, 1851, to Miss Mary F. 
Pottenger, a daughter of Dennis R. Pot- 
tenger, of Preble Co., Ohio : she was 
born there Aug. 1, 1834; they have had 
twelve children, eleven of whom are liv- 
ing — Alice E. (wife of Lafayette Bates, 
of Hutton Tp.\ William S., Granville D., 
Commodore D., Hester S., Seymore, Sher- 
man, May, Norman, Ettie and Ernest. 
Mr. Green has served several terms as 
School Director. 

W. P. GREEN, farmer and stock-raiser ; 
P. 0. Ashmore; was born in Miami Co., 
Ohio, Sept. 8, 1827, being a son of James 
and Elizabeth ( Heminway) Green ; when 
he was about 10 years old, his parents re- 
moved to Randolph Co., Ind.,an(l, in 1840, 
to Coles Co., returning a few years later 
to Ohio, and lived awhile in Darke 
Co., from which county they removed 
again to Randolph Co., Ind., and thence 
to Grant Co.; his father o]iened no less 
than seven farms in Ohio and Indiana ; 
the year the family returned to Ohio, Mr. 
Green made four trips between the two 
States ; on becoming of age, he went to 
Preble Co., Ohio. Ho was married Nov. 
2, 1851, to Miss Elizabeth Wilkinson, a 
daughter of Charles Wilkinson, of Preble 
Co., Ohio; she died Feb. 20, 1862, leav- 
ing three children, two of whom are liv- 
ing — Charles E. and James O. In the 
spring of 1863, Mr. Green came again to 
Coles Co., making seven trips during the 
summer. He was married Aug. 20, 
1863, to Mi.ss Eliza J. Brown, a daughter 
of J. W. and Martlia R. Brown, of Ash- 
more ; she was born at the Walnut Grove, 
in Edgar Co., Sept. 20, 1836; they have 
six children — Leona, Clarence E., Miner 
E., Jennie, Thomas L. and Nora. Mr. 



ASHMORE TOWNSHIP. 



599 



Green owns a farm of l(iO acres, on which 
he settled in 1864. 

NELSON R. GREEN, farmer and 

stock-raiser ; P. O. ; was born in 

Miami Co., Ohio, Dee. 25, 1830 ; he is a 
son of James and Elizabeth (^Heminway^ 
Green, and accompanied his parents in 
their various removals given above, and 
in 1850, came permanently to Coles Co.; 
he worked at various employments until 
1854, when he was married on the 19th 
of January, to Miss Mary E. Brown, the 
eldest daughter of Jobe W. and Martha 
R. Brown, of Ashmore ; she was born at 
the Walnut Grove, in Edgar Co., Sept. 7, 
18;!4; they have nine children — Jona- 
than W., George A.. Letitia M., Willie 
A., Leonard W., Caroline A., Claude 0., 
Charlie and Eugene D. Mr. Green set- 
tled on his present farm in 1865, where 
he owns 163 acres of land. 

ELDER PETER K. HONN, retired; ^ 
P. 0. Ashmore ; was born ^ in Nich- 
olas Co., Ky., July 22, 1814; he is | 
a son of Daniel and Anna Honn ; he 
pa.vsed his early years upon a farm, and at 
the age of 18 years, began the trade of a 
blacksmith; in 1835, he decided to follow 
Horace Greeley's advice, " Go West, 
young man, go West," and accordingly 
joined the family of Jeremiah Powell, and 
with them made the journey to Illinois, 
with a horse-team and two ox-teams ; they 
stopped in Edgar Co., where Mr. Powell 
settled, and where many of his descend- 
ants still reside; after spending a short 
lime in Edgar Co., and about six months 
in Sangamon Co., working at his trade, he 
came in 1836 to Hitesville, and opened a 
blacksmith-shop ; about five years later, he 
purchased a quarter-section of land, which 
he began to improve in connection with 
his trade ; after a number of years, he 
abandoned his shop and devoted his entire 
attention to farming ; he continued on the 
farm until 1875, when, ha^^ng accumu- 
lated a comfortable competence, he retired 
to his present home where he enjoys the 
harvest gathered in the summer of life. 
During his whole life, Mr. Honn has al- 
ways been ready to assist in carrying for- 
ward any public enterprise ; he has servetl 
the public in various oifices of trust — hav- 
ing held four commissions as Justice of 
the Peace, covering a period of sixteen 
years ; he was Postmaster for three years, 



and has served one term as Chairman of the 
Board of Supervisors ; he takes an active 
interest in educational matters, and has 
been School Director most of the time 
since the organization of the public-school 
S3'Stem in the county. He has never 
failed to meet an obligation as agreed 
upon, and was never before a court as 
plaintiff or defendant in a suit at law ; it 
has been a rule of his life not to become 
security for any one, a course which has 
proved beneficial not only to himself but 
to others. About five years after coming to 
the county, he was ordained a minister of 
the Christian Church, and has devoted 
himself more or less to the work of the 
ministrj ever since. He was married 
June 22, 1837, to Miss Matilda Woods, 
who was born in Madison Co., Ky., April 
19, 1817, and came to Coles Co. with her 
mother's family in 1835. They have 
raised a family of six children — William S., 
now occupying the old homestead in Ash- 
more Tp. ; Martha A., wife of D. R. Bain, 
of Edgar Co. ; Peter K., who died in 
1872 ; Sarah E., wife of F. M. Shaver, of 
Monroe Co., Ind. ; Samuel H., a practi- 
cing physician in Ashmore, and Mary E., 
wife of R. L. Tremble, of Coles Co. 

THOMAS W. HALLOCK, farmer and 
stock-raiser; P. 0. Ashmore ; was born 
in Dutchess Co., N.Y., Jan. 20, 1811; he 
was raised on a farm until he was 15 years 
old, and then went to Troy, N. Y., where 
he learned the trade of a coachmaker ; he 
worked for Eaton & Gilbert, at that time 
one of the largest coachmaking firms in 
the country ; he helped to build the first 
railway-coach in this country, in 1829; 
this coach was run on the Amboy & Bur- 
tontown R. R., and was drawn by horses. 
Going to New York City in 1 833, he en- 
tered the employ of John Stephenson, then 
located on Bleecker St., near the Bowery, 
and continued with him after he went to 
Harlem, and put up his large manufactory 
there; he remained in New York, and 
Newark, N. J., until 1837, when he came 
to Coles Co., and entered 400 acres of land 
on the Embarrass ; he then rented a farm 
of H. J. Ashmore for five years, but ow- 
ing to a lack of rain his farming venture 
proved an unfortunate one, and at the end of 
three years he abandoned it, and removing 
to Charleston, engaged in carpentering, 
wagon-making and blacksmithing. On the 



600 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



restarting of the Terra Haute, Alton & 
St. Louis Railroad, he returned to Ash- 
more Tp., and settled on his present farm ; 
at that time it was all Government land to 
the east, except around the groves ; there 
was but one house on the prairie, that be- 
ing on Wolf Hill ; he w)uld see, any day, 
from 20 to 30 deer in the vicinity ; not- 
withstanding his first failure in farming, 
he has since been, and is now one of the 
most successful farmers in the county. 
He owns 340 acres of land, well improved, 
with a large, fine house, seven acres of 
orchard and shrubbery, etc. ; he has made 
a specialty of raising and shipping hay — 
shipping a few years ago about 400 tons, 
annually. Like most other successful farm- 
ers, he has attended strictly to his farm, 
leaving public offices to those having laore 
leisure and inclination to attend to them. 
His first marriage was in May, 1840, to 
Miss Jane Johnson, of Coles Co. ; she died 
a few years later, leaving one daughter — 
Alice, wife of Benjamin Honold, of Edgar 
Co. Mr. Hallock was married again Nov. 
19, 1846, to Mrs. Elizabeth Tuttle ; her 
maiden name was Elizabeth Clark ; she 
was born in Pulaski Co., Ky., May 14, 
1820; her father, James Clark, was one 
of the pioneers of Coles Co., coming with 
his family in 1829 ; they have five chil- 
dren living — George R., James H., Aldora 
A., wife of R. M. Childress, Thomas L., 
and William H. ; Mrs. Hallock has one 
daughter of her former marriage — Marga- 
ret T. Tuttle, wife of Charles S. Olmsted, 
of Charleston. 

0. D. HAWKINS, farmer and stock- 
raiser, Ashmore ; was born in Fleming 
Co., Ky., Feb. 28, 1822 ; he is a son of 
Gregory R. and Elizabeth (Ballardj Haw- 
kins, the former a native of Maryland and 
the latter of Kentucky ; when he was 
about 8 years old, his parents removed 
to Scott Co., Ind., and. in 1841, to Coles 
Co., settling about two and one-half miles 
west of Ashmore ; they landed here on the 
4th of March, the day on which Gen. Har- 
rison was inaugurated President of the 
United States ; his father died here in 
1808, and his mother in 1873. They had 
a family of fifteen children, twelve of 
whom grew to adult age, and five of whom 
are now living. Oliver D., the subject of 
this sketch, started in lilc for himself at 
13 years of age, working out by the 



month and by the day ; he is now one of 
the most substantial citizens of the town- 
ship ; his farm of 287 acres, adjoining the 
village of Ashmore, is one of the best im- 
proved in the vicinity. In 1852, Mr. 
Hawkins contracted to clear about ten 
miles of the Terre Haute, Alton and St. 
LouLs Railroad, and, also, for several years, 
was engaged in supplying ties and wood 
for the road, clearing for that purpose some 
150 acres of land. He served nine years 
as Constable. In 1860, he removed to 
the village of Ashmore, and in April, the 
same year, was elected Justice of the 
Peace; he still holds the office, having 
been re-elected every four years to the 
present time ; he was the first Police ^lag- 
istrate in Ashmore, serving several years ; 
he was also Postmaster from 1861 to 1866, 
when he resigned ; he has served one 
term on the Board of Supervisors, and 
one term as Coroner of the county ; in 
1870, he became Superintendent of the 
County Alms-house and Poor-farm, re- 
maining in charge of that institution until 
1873, when he removed to his present 
farm ; he also held the oftice of Township 
School Treasurer a short time. He was 
married March 21, 1844, to Miss Mary 
Laffler, a daughter of John and Mary 
(Hurd) Laffler; she was born in Wayne 
Co., Ohio, Jan. 6, 1823, and came with 
her parents to Coles Co. in 1837 ; her 
father died in 1843, and her mother in 
1853. Mr. Hawkins has four children, all 
living in Ashmore, viz., 'William, Jului, 
Albert and Ellen, wife of William N. 
Austin. 

WM. C. KIMBALL, of the firm of 
Austin, Brown & Kimball, dealers in hard- 
ware, lumber, furniture and undertaking, 
Ashmore ; has been a resident of Ashmore 
since 1867 ; he was born in Cambridge, 
Guernsey Co., Ohio, June 14, 1838 ; was 
educated at the Cambridge Union Schools, 
and, in 1857, began teaching school ; he 
continued in that profession in Ohio till 
March, 1863, when he enli.stod in Co. H, 
1 22d O. V. I., and .served in the (ith Army 
Corps in the Armj' of the Potomac until 
Jan. 1, 1864; he was then detailed as a 
clerk in the office of the Provost Marshal 
General of Ohio, at Columbus, and served 
in that capacity till the close of the war ; 
he was mustered out July 1, 1865. After 
the war, he came to Illinois and taught 



ASHMORE TOWNSHIP. 



601 



beeu School 
three years. 
10, 1860, to 



school oue winter in Monticello, Madison 
Co.; in March, 1867, he took charge of the 
public schools in Ashmore, and remained 
in charge most of the time until the spring 
of 1876. In 1875, he became a partner 
in the firm of Austin, Brown & Kimball. 
Mr. Kimball was Village Clerk from 
April, 1875, to April, 1878, and has 
Director for the past 
He was married April 
Miss Lizzie Speers, of 
Guernsey Co., Ohio; she died March 16, 
1866. Mr. Kimball was married again 
Sept. 20, 1868, to Miss Rowena A. Gra- 
ham, of Ashmore ; she died Sept. 30, 
1877, leaving three children — Clarence 0. 
L., Mary C. and Gertie R. 

JEREMIAH LANE, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Ashmore ; was born in 
Muskingum Co., Ohio, Jan. 17, 1814; 
his father, George W. Lane, was a pioneer, 
coming from his native State, Maryland, 
at the age of 13; his mother, Sarah Lane, 
was a native of Ohio, and a descendant of 
a Maryland family ; his parents both died 
in Ohio ; Mr. Lane was raised on the 
farm, and has followed that avocation all 
hi.s life; he came to Coles Co. in 1873, 
and settled on his present farm, one mile 
east of the village of Ashmore, where he 
owns 131 acres of land, with good brick 
house, commodious barn, outbuildings, 
etc.; he makes a specialty of breeding fine 
horses, having ten now on hand ; also has 
160 hogs. He was married March 10, 
1870, to Miss Cornelia Swartz, who was 
born in Campbell Co., Ky., July 12, 1 851 ; 
they have two children living — Minnie 
L. and Henry L. 

WILLIAM H. MACK, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Ashmore ; was born 
in Kentucky April 11, 1828, and came 
to Illiqois when he was 5 years old, 
with the fiimily of his father, William 
Mack ; after spending one winter in 
Coles Co., his father settled in Clark 
Co., where he died about eight years 
ago; Mr. Mack lived in Clark Co. until 
he became of age, and then came to Coles 
Co.; he began life by working out by the 
month, and, after accumulating some 
money, he purchased 120 acres of land, 
on which he settled in the fall of 1853: 
he now owns 790 acres in his home farm, 
and 100 acres in Clark Co.; his farm is 
one of the best in the county, is well 



fenced, under good cultivation, and im- 
proved with a fine two-story dwelling, 
barns, outbuildings, etc., costing not less 
than $6,000 ; his residence occupies a 
beautiful eminence, and from it can be 
plainly seen the village of Kansas, in Ed- 
gar Co., while the church-spires of West- 
field, in Clark Co., and of Ashmore, in 
Coles Co., are visible. Mr. Mack has given 
considerable attention to the raising of 
stock, keeping from 50 to 150 head of cat- 
tle ; having no leisure nor inclination for 
official life, he has never sought nor held 
public office, but has devoted himself ex- 
clusively to the management of his large 
farm. He was married Dec. 19, 1850, to 
Miss Elvira Anderson, a daughter of Rob- 
ert Anderson, one of the early settlers of 
P]dgar Co.; she was born in that couijty 
Feb. 25, 1832, and removed with her 
parents to. Coles Co. when about 8 years 
old ; they have five children — Joseph A., 
William A., Catherine P., Oscar A. and 
Charles A. 

ELIAS MONROE, Postmaster and 
dealer in dry goods, notions, boots, shoes, 
etc. (firm of Zimmerman & Monroe ), Ash- 
more ; was born in Shelby Co., III., Feb. 
7, 1812, but removed in childhood to 
Moultrie Co., where he lived until 1861 ; 
his mother then removed with her family 
(the father having died years before) to 
Hitesville, Coles Co. In December, 1863, 
he entered the Union army as a member of 
Co. H, 59th I. V. I.; he participated, among 
other engagements, in the battles of Look- 
out Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, Re- 
saca (where he received a slight wound), 
Peach-Tree Creek, Marietta, .'■iege of 
Atlanta, Jonesboro, Lovejoy Station, Big 
Shanty, Spring Hill, Franklin and Nash- 
ville, where he was severely wounded in 
the right leg during the first day's fight, 
Dec. 15, 1864, necessitating tlie amputa- 
tion of hLs leg in the field hospital ; 
he was mustered out in June, 1865 ; re- 
covering from his wound, in 1867, he 
entered the Soldiers' College, in Fulton, 
111., where he remained two years, and then 
came to Ashmore, and was appointed 
Postmaster in August, 1869. In Octo- 
ber, 1877, he became a member of the firm 
of Zimmerman & Monroe. 

J. B. MOORE, farmer and stock-raiser ; 
P. 0. Ashmore; was born in Butler Co., 
Ohio, July 22, 1836 ; he is a son of Will- . 



602 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



ian) S. and Julia A. ( Eddingfiekl ) Moore; 
liis father, an early settler of Butler Co., 
having come from his native State, New 
Jersey, at the age of 4 years ; his 
mother was born in Ohio, her parents 
being from Pennsylvania. In 1802, his 
father removed West with his family, 
spending the summer in Vigo Co., Ind., 
and coming to Coles County in the fall ; he 
resided in Ashmore until his death, Feb. 
8, 1875 ; his father was a Universalist, and 
his mother a Baptist, and both led blame- 
less Christian lives, and were highly re- 
spected by all who knew them ; his father 
was especially noted for his generous, char- 
itable course toward the poor, and all in 
distress ; his mother now lives in Ohio, to 
which State she returned two years ago. 
There are four of the family living, viz., 
Lucinda C. (wife of A. K. Miner, of Cedar 
Rapids, Iowa"), James B., Martha J. (wife 
of John Mell, of Ashmorej, and William 
T. James B. Moore, the subject of this 
sketch, was married Nov. 4, 1869, to Miss 
Martha J. Lane, a daughter of George W. 
and Sarah Lane ; she was born in Mus- 
kingum Co., Ohio. Oct. 1, 1842 ; they 
five children, as follows: Delia May, Mary 
Lela, Ora Leslie, Halla Florence and 
Francis Burrell. Mr. Moore owns a fknn 
of 130 acres, located one mile east of Ash- 
more village. 

THOMAS O'BRIEN, flirmer and stock 
raiser ; P. 0. Ashmore ; was born in the 
city of Philadelphia Feb. 18, 1830; he is 
a son of John and Mary O'Brien ; his 
father was born in Mt. Maleck, Queens 
Co., Ireland, in February, 1801 ; up to the 
age of 18 years, he worked in his father's 
tailor-shop ; he then went to London, 
Eng., and afterward to Leeds, .spending 
seven years in the two cities ; after paying 
a brief visit to his native place, he came to 
America at the age of 25 ; his first settle- 
ment was in Philadeljihia, where he was 
married March 18, 1828, to Miss Sarah 
Campbell a native of Philadelpiiia ; siie 
was born May 1, 1808; he worked as a 
journeyman in Philadeljihia until 1832, 
when he removed to Cincinnati, and there 
followed his trade five years ; he then re- 
moved to Terre Haute, Ind., where he be- 
gan business for himself ; in 1841), he came 
to Ashmore and settled on a farm, con- 
taining 435 acres of wild land which he 
had purchased the year before. About 



twenty years ago, he removed to the village 
of Ashmore, where he resided till his 
death, Sept. 26, 1873, and where his 
widow still resides. He was a man of the 
strictest commercial integrity, and highly 
respected as a citizen ; he left seven chil- 
dren, five of whom are living; the eldest 
son, Thomas, was employed in his father's 
shop in Terre Haute for about three years 
before the family removed to Coles Co. ; he 
remained on the farm until 1855, when he 
came to the village and engaged in mer- 
chandising, in which he continued till 
1873, since which time he has devoted his 
attention to stock business ; he owns a farm 
of 130 acres in the corporation and forty- 
three acres in another part of the township. 
He has been a member of the Town Board 
of Trustees or Board of Education most of 
the time during his residence here. He 



10, 1855, to Miss 
daughter of James 
they have two chil- 



was married Jan. 
Amanda Wells, a 
Wells, of Ashmore ; 
dren — Capitola and Grace. 

CAPT. CHARLES D. PHELPS, de- 
ceased, late of Ashmore Tp., one of the 
pioneers of Coles Co. ; was born in Jladi- 
son Co., Ky., Jan. 26, 1801 ; he was a son 
of Jarrot and Millie ( Duncanj Phelps, 
both natives of Virginia. He was married 
March 3, 1825. to Miss Mary A. Coons, a 
daughter of John and Polly (Crosswhite) 
Coons; she was born in Fayette Co., Ky., 
about eight miles from Lexington, July 
29, 1809. In 1830, he removed to Coles 
Co., and settled on the farm now 0( cupied 
by his widow and youngest son ; he pur- 
chased and entered about 300 acres of 
land, was an industrious and successful 
man, a leading member of the Christian 
Church, and led a life consistent with his 
professions. Coming to Coles Co.- before 
the Black Hawk war, they had the Kick- 
apoos and Pottawatoniies for their neigh- 
bors. On the breaking-out of the Black 
Hawk war he volunteered as a soldier, was 
commissioned a Captaiu, and a.ssisted in 
the capture of the Chief, Black Ilawk. He 
died Dec. 2, 1864 ; of nine children eight 
were living at the time of his death, and 
six are living at the present time, viz., 
Josiah, now a resident of this township; 
Jarrot, of Shell City, Mo.; Mildred A. wife 
of Addison Bowcn; of Johnson Co., Kan. ; 
Mary A., wife of Thomas Adair, of John- 
son Co., Kan. ; Samuel W., who served in 



ASHMORE TOWNSHIP. 



603 



the late war, and now lives in Schuyler 
Co., Mo., and Charles D., residing on the 
homestead ; John C, a member of the 
123d I. V. I., died at Nashville, Tenn., 
in Febraary, 1863 ; Susan E., wife of Will- 
iam O'Brien, died April 19, 1860 ; Foun- 
tain served in the late war, and died in 
1871, in Schuyler Co., Mo. Mrs. Phelps 
still resides on the old place, about two 
miles south of Ashmore ; she has passed 
through many and severe hardships of 
those pioneer days, and is now hale and 
strong at nearly 70 years of age. 

\V. K. PAYNE, retired, Ashmore; 
although not an early settler of Coles Co., 
is one of the pioneers in the adjoining 
county of Edgar, where he was a promi- 
nent citizen for forty-six years. He 
was born in Shelby Co., Ky., May 17, 
1807, and is a son of John and Elizabeth 
(Wright) Payne, both natives of Ken- 
tucky and descendants of old Virginia 
families. His early education was limited 
to such as the schools of that region af- 
forded. In 1822, his father removed with 
his family to Owen Co., Ind. In 1831, 
Mr. Payne came to Edgar Co., and en- 
gaged in the mercantile business in Grand 
View ; he built a store in that place, and 
after his marriage occupied it both as a 
store and dwelling ; he afterward erected a 
substantial store and a fine residence on 
the same spot ; both of these were re- 
cently destroyed by fire. Mr. Payne con- 
tinued in the mercantile business in Grand 
View for thirty-five years, during which 
time he held the office of Postmaster for 
twelve years. In 1866, he retired from 
active business, and in October, 1877, 
he removed to Ashmore, where he 
now lives in the quiet enjoyment of 
the results of a long and successful 
business life. He was married Jan. 
2, 1834, to Miss Matilda Wampler, 
who was born in Steubenville, Jeffer- 
son Co., Ohio, July 22, 1815; she is a 
daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Stephens) 
Wampler, both natives of Baltimore, Md. ; 
she came in 1831 to Illinois with her 
parents, who settled in Hickory Grove, 
Edgar Co. ; her father, Rev. Joseph 
Wampler, was a well-known minister of 
the Methodist Church. In his early life, 
he was a civil engineer, and in that capacity 
assisted in the survey of the State of Mich- 
igan. Mr. Payne's family consists of two 



sons and two d;iughters — Joseph W., a 
merchant in Paris, 111. ; Sarah E., wife of 
Wm. S. Van Meter, of Neosho Co., Kan. ; 
John W., of Oakland, Cal., and Mary E., 
wife of Joel S. Gary, of Ashmore Tp. 

CALEB REED, farmer and stock-rais- 
er ; P. O. Ashmore ; was born in Spencer 
Co., Ky., Dec. 1, 1818, and was 11 years 
old when he came to Coles Co.; his father, 
Thomas Reed, was a native of Pennsyl- 
vania ; removed to Kentucky with his 
parents when a boy, and there married 
Miss Anna Kirkham, a native of Ken- 
tucky, and the 1st of December, 1829, left 
that State with his family, consisting of a 
wife and five children, to found a new home 
in the wilderness of Illinois. They came 
with a five-horse team, the journey con- 
suming nearly a month ; arriving in Edgar 
Co., they spent a few days, and about New 
Year's, 1830, came to Coles Co., and set- 
tled on the farm now owned by his son 
Caleb Reed ; he entered quite a tract of 
land, owning at one time about a thousand 
acres. He was a strong Whig, although 
he never .sought to lead or hold office ; he 
was a quiet, industrious man, attending 
strictly to his own affairs ; conservative in 
his operations, not given to speculation ; a 
man who enjoyed in an eminent degree the 
esteem of his neighbors and townsmen ; he 
died in December, 1854, leaving four chil- 
dren, three of whom are living. Caleb 
Reed, the only living son, has always re- 
sided on the homestead ; like his father, 
he has never sought official positions, his 
farm of 430 acres requiring his entire at- 
tention. He was married Feb. 22, 1844, 
to Miss Jane Carter, a daughter of John 
and Mary Carter ; she was horn in Wayne 
Co., Ky., Dec. 15, 1824, and came to 
Coles Co. with her parents in 1 830 ; of 
eleven children, eight are living — Samuel 
H. of Douglas Co.; Martha A., wife of 
James T. Wright, of Ashmore Tp.; George 
R.; Emma J., wife of J. Elbridge Dudley, 
of Ashmore Tp.; John C, Thomas L., 
Ida M. and Albert M. 

A. T. ROBERTSON, M. D., physician 
and surgeon, dealer in drugs, medicines, 
etc., Ashmore ; was born in Sumner Co., 
Tenn., June 30, 1834; his father, Rev. 
John H. Robertson, was born in Virginia, 
and removed to Tennessee with his parents 
when but a boy ; in 1829, he came to 
Coles Co., and engaged in teaching school 



604 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



near the present city of Cliarleston ; his 
name appears on tlie records as the second 
person to whom letters of administration 
were granted in Coles Co.; in 1832, he re- 
turned to Tennessee, where he was ordained 
a minister of the M. E. Church, and where 
he married Miss Sarah Carr, of Sumner 
Co.; about ] 838, he removed to Camden 
Co., Mo., and is now a prominent and well- 
to-do farmer of Laclede Co., in that State. 
Dr. Robertson, at the age of 21, engaged 
in teaching in Choctaw Nation, pursuing 
his medical studies in the mean time ; this 
he continued two years; in 1858, he at- 
tended his first course of lectures in the 
medical department of the State University 
at Nashville, Tenn.; he then located in 
Carroll Co., Ark., and began practice ; 
during the winter of 1860-61, he attended 
lectures in the Jefferson Medical College, 
Philadelphia, where he graduated and re- 
ceived his degree in the spring of 1861 ; 
returning to Arkansas, he practiced medi- 
cine there till 1864, and then removed to 
Ashmore ; after teaching school a part of the 
first year, he began practicing medicine in 
July, 1865, and has had a large and lucra- 
tive practice ever since. He was elected 
Town Clerk in 1866, and served till 1877; 
during the past two years, he has been 
Notary Public and Police Magistrate. He 
was married in the Choctaw Nation Jan. 
30, 1858, to Miss Rebecca Mitchell, a na- 
tive of Tennessee ; they have three chil- 
dren living — Leouidas C, Ashley H. and 
Sarah A. Dr. Robertson engaged in the 
drug business about four years asjo. 

JOSHUA RICKETTS, dealer in grain 
and produce, groceries, glassware, queens- 
ware, etc., Ashmore; was born in Mus- 
kingum Co., Ohio, March 13, 1821. He 
is a son of Joshua and Sarah (Taylor) 
Ricketts. He remained at home until he 
was 13 years old, when he went to Knox 
County, Ohio, and engaged in study 
with a view to ])reparing for ihe ministry, 
but meeting with a change in his religious 
belief he abandoned the idea and engaged 
in farming, afterward learning the trade 
of a marble cutter. At the age of 23 
he went to Co.shocton, Ohio, and fol- 
lowed fanning for a while, afterward 
removing tu Terre Haute, Ind., where he 
engaged in the marble business. In 1849, 
he came to Illinois, remained one year in 
■Clark County, and removed thence to 



Charleston, Coles County, in 1850. There 
he carried on the marble business till 1861, 
when he enlisted as a private m J. W. 
Bissell's Engineer Regiment of the West ; 
was promoted to Second and afterward to 
First Lieutenant. He served in this regi- 
ment twenty months ; when Gen. Mor- 
gan made his raid into Indiana Mr. Rick- 
etts again enlisted in the 109th Ind. Vols, 
and was commissioned by Gov. Morton, 
Adjutant of the regiment. After a brief 
service of eight days the regiment wa.s 
mustered out, the occiision for their enlist- 
ment having ceased. On thecallfor 100- 
day men, in 1864, Mr. Ricketts, no.t wait- 
ing for a commission, again volunteered in 
the 143d 111. Vols., and served as Sergeant 
of Co. '"A." He took part in the capture 
of Island Number Ten, siege of Corinth, 
and the battle of Corinth on the 3rd and 
4th of October, 1862. Returning toCharles- 
ton he continued in business till 1873, 
when he was appointed Superintendent of 
the Coles County Alms-house and Poor- 
farm, and still remains in charge of the 
institution. He engaged in his present 
business in Ashmore in 1875. During 
the past year he has served as Collector of 
the township. He was one year Assessor 
of Charleston, and has twice been elected 
Justice of the Peace. He was married 
Dec. 29, 1846, to Miss Catharine D. Rob- 
erts, of Co.shocton County, Ohio. She 
died in 1854, leaving three children — Sa- 
rah M., now wife of Wm. Killough, of 
Kansas ; Wm. vV. and Cornelia M.. wife of 
Geo. B. Shinn, of ('oles County. Mr. R. 
was married again Sept. 4, 1855, to Miss 
Melvina Jones, of Clark County, 111. They 
have nine children — Thomas A., Fannie 
B., John T., James E., Frank H., Oscar 
J., Charles W., Nettie M. and Elizabeth. 
A. J. SHIILSE, farmer and stock-raiser, 
P. 0.. Kan.sas ; was born in Nicholas Co., 
Ky., Oct. 17. 1827, being a son of Henry 
and Winnifred Shulse, the former a native 
of Kentucky, and the latter of Virginia. 
He was married Aug. 5, 1852, to Miss 
Martha J. Honn, a daughter of David 
and Anna Hnnn, of Nicholas Count}', Ky. 
She was born in that county May 9, 1826. 
In November, 1859, they removed to Coles 
County, and the following spring settled in 
their present home. Mr. and Mrs. Shulse 
are well pleased with the change from 
Kentucky to the prairies of Illinois. For 



ASHMORE TOWNSHIP. 



605 



nearly three years past, they have been 
traveling in the West, visiting the States of 
Missouri, Kansas and Colorado, spending 
over a year in the Rocky Mountains, and 
although well pleased with the Western 
country, have returned fully satisfied with 
their present home. Mr. Shulse owns a 
fine farm, improved with good buildings, 
shrubbery, orchards and miles of Osage 
hedge, which in summer time presents a 
most beautiful appearance. It occupies a 
commanding location, aff'ording a fine view 
of the surrounding country. Mr. Shulse 
has devoted his attention exclusively to 
his business of farming, in which he has 
been very successful. His aim has been to 
farm in a thorough manner rather than to 
acquire large quantities of land, and the 
result fully demonstrates the wisdom of 
his course. His home farm contains 80 
acres, besides which he has 20 acres of 
timber. In 18(5S, he was ordained an 
Elder in the Christian Church, since which 
time he has served in that capacity. 

A. T. STEELE, M. D., physician and 
surgeon, Ashmore, is a native of Illinois ; 
he was born in Clark Co. June 28, 1844; 
he is a sou of Oliver P. Steele, a native of 
the city of Philadelphia, who came to 
Clark Co. in 1837, where he resided till 
his death, which occurred Oct. 2, 1872 ; 
his mother was Nancy K. Twilley, who 
was born in Kentucky, and came to Illi- 
nois with her in 1832. Dr. Steele was 
raised on the farm ; in 1863, he enlisted 
in Co. C, 62d 111. Vols., serving till Feb. 
1865 ; he participated in the battles of 
Little Rock, Pine Bluffs and Fort Smith, 
Ark., and Fort Gibson, Indian Territory ; 
returning from the war, he spent one year 
in farming, and, in 1867, entered West- 
field College, where he remained two 
years; during the winter of 1869-70, he 
attended lectures in Rush Medical Col- 
lege, Chicago, reading medicine the fol- 
lowing summer in the office of Dr. Van 
Dyke, in Ashmore; in the fall of 1871, 
he returned to the college in Chicago, but 
the buildings of that institution being de- < 
stroyed in the great fire in that city, he 
went to the LTniversity of Michigan 'in 
Ann Arbor, and there pursued his second 
course in medicine ; he began practice as a 
physician in Ashmore, in 1872, and, in the 
fall of 1874, returned to Ru.sh Medical 
College, where he graduated and received 



the degree of M. D. in February 1875 ; 
as a physician, he has been successful, hav- 
ing a large and steadily-increasing practice. 
He was married May 14, 1872, to Miss 
Anna M. Duncan, of Westfield, 111., and 
has three children — -Perry L., Binnie A. 
and Clifford B. 

JONATHAN SHAVER, farmer 
and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Ashmore ; the 
above - named gentleman was born in 
Ladoga, Montgomery Co., Ind., July 22, 
1836; his father, Jonathan M. Shaver, a 
native of Virginia, was an eaily settler in 
Montgomery Co., having come there about 
the year 1830, his mother, Susan Shaver, 
being also a native of Virginia ; Mr. 
Shaver was raised on a farm. He was 
married Sept. 30, 1856, to Miss Mary J. 
Stratton, of Greene Co., Ohio; she died 
Jan. 8, 1860, leaving two children — 
llosella and Emma J. Mr. Shaver was 
then poor; he worked at the time of the 
war for $12 per month during half 
of the year, and the balance of the 
year for his board ; to illustrate the habits 
of economy which he practiced, after sup- 
porting his two children, he had some- 
thing left. He was married again Aug. 
1, 1865, to Miss Sarah A. Trickey, a 
daughter of George W. and Hannah 
Trickey; she was born in Boone Co., 
Ind., Sept. 5, 1842; they have five chil- 
dren — Laura V., John E., Herbert I., 
Gracie M. and Ralph. In 1867, he re- 
moved to Coles Co., and settled on his 
present farm ; he has worked hard, and 
now owns 140 acres of land under a good 
state of cultivation, a barn costing nearly 
a thousand dollars, and no incumbrance 
on any of it. He is a man of the strictest 
integrity, and a prosperous citizen. 

FOUNTAIN TURNER, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Ashmore ; one of the 
pioneers of Coles Co. ; was born in Madi- 
son Co., Ky., Feb. 3, 1795, being the son 
of Thomas and Anna Turner, and the sec- 
ond in age of a family of three chil- 
dren ; his father was from South Carolina, 
and his mother from Virginia ; he was but 
3 years of age when his father died. He 
was married Dec. 7, 1818, to Miss Eliza- 
beth Phelps, a daughter of Jarrot and 
jNlillie Phelps ; she was born in Madison 
Co., Ky., Feb. 12, 1803 ; her parents were 
both natives of Virginia. Mr. Turner set- 
tled on a farm in Madison Co., and there 



606 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



resided until 1834, when he sold out, and 
with his wife and four children started iu 
an emigrant-wagon for the wilds of Illi- 
nois, arriving in Coles Co. after a journey 
of fifteen days ; he settled on the very spot 
where he now resides, and bought about 
300 acres of land ; he now owns a fine 
farm of 400 acres ; they have had nine 
children, as follows : Samuel, who died July 
13, 1865 ; Jarrot, who died Nov. 28, 1875 ; 
Thomas, who now resides on the home 
farm just in the edge of Button Tp ; 
George A. C, who died Oct. 20, 1854 ; 
Mary E., wife of S. C. Ashmore, of Ash- 
more ; Ann, wife of Riley Davis, of Hut- 
ton Tp. ; Mildred A., who died Aug. 2fi, 
1828; Oliver S., who died Feb. 1, 1853 ; 
and Martin, who was a soldier of the 123d 
111. Vols., and was killed in his first battle, 
that of Perryville, Ky. Mr. Turner and 
wife have lived together over 60 years, 
and are both hale and strong for persons of 
their age ; they are members of the Chris- 
tian Church, and have the respect and 
esteem of all who know them. 

FRANCIS M. WATERS, Ashmore; 
dealer in dry goods and notions, boots and 
shoes, hats, caps and clothing ; was born 
in Ross Co., Ohio, March 16, 1838, and 
is a son of Baker and Mary Waters ; in 
1847, his parents removed to Coles Co., 
and settled in Charleston, where his father 
carried on the wagon and carriage making 
busine.ss about ten years ; he then removed 
to a farm in Ashmore Tp., where he lived 
till his death, in 1875 ; Mr. Waters' moth- 
er died the year before ; the family con- 
sisted of eight sons and one daughter, all 
residents of Coles Co. ; when he was 1 2 
years old, Mr. Waters entered his father's 
shop to learn the wagon-maker's trade. 
He was married Feb. 14, 1861, to Miss 
Edith Austin, a daughter of John and 
Susan Austin, of Ashmore; she died Jan. 
4, 1862, leaving ime child — Edith E. ; 
in 1862, he entered the 123d 111. Vols, as 
principal musician, and on the re-organiza- 
tion of his regiment as mounted infantry, 
he w;vs made regimental bugler ; he served 
with Ills regiment till the cluse of the war, 
participating in all of its engagements — 
numbering over one hundred and twenty ; 
among them, Perryville, Ky. ; Milton, 
Tenn. ; Hoover's Gap, Chattanooga ; 
Chickamauga, Farmington, Peach-Tree 
Creek, Kenesaw MouDtain, llesaca, siege 



of Atlanta, Selma, Ala., Columbus and 
Macon. Returning, he carried on the car- 
riage-making business one year, and at the 
same time started his present business. 
He was married a second time Aug. 12, 
1869, to Miss Eliza O'Brien, of Ashmore ; 
she died March 6, 1877, leaving one child 
— George H. 

NATHANIEL WICKER, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Ashmore ; was born iu 
Pike Co., Ohio, Sept. 21, 1820 ; he is a 
son of James and Elizabeth Wicker, the 
former a native of North Carolina, and the 
latter of Kentucky; in 1838, the family 
came to Illinois, spending a part of the 
winter in Indiana, and arriving in Edgar 
Co., in February, 1839 ; they^settled at the 
Walnut Grove, where his parents resided 
till their death ; in 1848, Mr. Wicker, tak- 
ing the younger members of his father's 
family, removed to Coles Co., and settled 
in Ashmore Tp. ; his first marriage 
occurred March 31, 1851, to Miss Han- 
nah E. Law, a native of Madison Co., 
Ohio ; she came to Edgar Co., at the age 
of 9 years ; she died Feb. 9, 1878, 
leaving three children — Lydia V., now 
wifeof James A. Wright, of Ashmore Town- 
ship, George A., and Albert H. ; he was 
married again, Dec. 24, 1878, to Mi.ss 
Sai-ah H. Wright, a daughter of Robert 
and Catharine Wright ; she was born in 
Campbell Co., Kentucky, Sept. 28, 1840; 
Mr. Wicker settled on his present farm in 
1851, where he owns 94 acres of land. 

THOMAS WOODS, farmer and .stock- 
raiser; P. 0. Westfie'd, Clark Co., was born 
in Coles Co., on the home.stead, where he 
now resides, July 12, 1848 ; his father, 
William AVoods, one of the pioneers of 
the county, was born in Madison Co., Ky., 
Nov. 28, 1808, and settled in Coles 
Co. in the year 1834, with the family of 
his mother, Mrs. Mary Woods ; like most 
of the early settlers, he came here a poor 
man, to build him a home in the then wil- 
derness ; he purchased at first forty acres 
of land ; he was an energetic, hard working 
man, who commanded the respect and con- 
fidence of his neighbors ; to his farm of 
forty acres he added at various times, until 
he owned at one time 240 acres of land 
situated in Coles and Clark Cos., which 
amount he left at the time of his death ; 
Thomas Woods, the only son, has always 
remained on the old homestead. He was 



HUTTON TOWNSHIP. 



607 



married oq the 17th of February, 1876, to 
Miss MoUie A. Arterburn, a dauo;hter of 
William Arterburn, of Edgar Co., 111. ; she 
was born in Louisville, Ky., Feb. 11, 1846, 
and came to Illinois with her parents in 
infancy ; they have one child — Alta. 

JACOB ZIMMERMAN, of the firm 
of Zimmerman & Monroe, dealers in dry 
goods, notions, boots, shoes, etc., Ashmore ; 
was born in Augusta County, Va., Sept. 
19, 1836; in 1837, his father, Martin 
Zimmerman, removed with his family to 
Edgar Co., 111., where he resided one year, 
and then settled in the edge of what is now 
Oakland Township, in 1838; in (/ommon 
with most of the pioneers, he began life in 
the West with an empty pocket, but with 
that unconquerable determination to suc- 
ceed before which all obstacles recede and 
vanish away ; he entered some land from 
the Government, to which he added until 
he owned a fine farm of 400 acres, and 
was regarded as one of the most reliable 
and substantial farmers in the vicinity ; he 
died in 18.52, leaving a family of eight 
children. Jacob Zimmerman remained on 
the home farm about two years after his 
father's death, and then engaged in farm- 
ing for himself ; a few years later, he 
started in the mercantile business in Ash- 
more ; he has been the agent of the Ameri- 
can Express Co., for the past eighteen 
years ; he served about two years on 
the Board of Supervisors, and a term or 
two as Assessor ; he was a member of the 
Board of Trustees of the village of Ash- 
more seven terms, and several years, of the 
Board of School Directors. He was mar- 
ried in September, 1855, to Miss Sarah C. 
Ashmore, a daughter of the late Hezekiah 



J. A.shmore, of this town, and has three 
children — Lillian, Norman L. and Ver- 
nona. 

JAMES ZIMMERMAN, flirmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Ashmore ; a son of 
Martin and Sarah Zimmerman ; was born 
in Augusta Co., Va., Dec. 8, 1827, and 
came to the State of Illinois with his par- 
ents in 1837, at the age of 10 years ; his 
father, after spending one year in Edgar 
Co., removed to Coles Co., in 1838, and 
settled on a farm in the edge of Oakland 
Tp.; this fai-m is now owned and occupied 
by John B. Zimmerman, one of his sons. 
On the 12th of January, 1854, the sub- 
ject of this sketch was married to Miss 
Mary A. MoDavitt, a daughter of Nortley 
McDavitt, of Edgar Co., 111. ; she was 
born in Hampshire Co., Va., Jan. 13, 
1830, and came to Edgar Co. with her 
parents in 1832 ; of seven children of this 
marriage five are living — William R., Roley 
0., Mary I., Ella E. and Cora N. Mr. Zim- 
merman began life for himself by working- 
out by the month, and, in 1853, began im- 
proving his present home, which was then 
nothing but the raw prairie ; he first en- 
tered 160 acres of land, from the Govern- 
ment ; to this he has added at various 
times, until he now owns some 400 acres 
of as fine land as is to be found in Illinois, 
with good improvements and well-stocked, 
etc. ; he has made a specialty of stock- 
raising, raising what grain was necessary to 
feed his stock, thus consuming the products 
of the land upon the farm ; he has never 
been an oSice-seeker, nor an ofiice-holder, 
but has devoted himself to his business of 
farming. 



HUTTON TOWNSHIP. 



ELIJAH ADAMS, farmer; P. 0. 
Diona ; was born in Licking Co., Ohio, 
Oct. 23, 1824 ; in the year 1838, his par- 
ents, John Adams, who was a native of 
New York, and Susanna Adams, a native 
of Maryland, moved to Coles Co., and set- 
tled on Sec. 17, where the son now resides, 
having entered the land ; both died there, 
his mother in October, 1877, and his 
father, June, 1878. The subject of this 



sketch has always resided in this county 
witli the exception of the years 1850 and 
1851, when he was mining and prospect- 
ing in California. He has held the oflice 
of School Trustee and Director for fifteen 
years, and is such at the present time ; 
was also Supervisor five years, Assessor 
four years, and is at present Commissioner 
of Highways. He owns 200 acres of 
land. He married Miss Louisa Ander- 



608 



BIuGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



son, daughter of James Anderson ; her 
parents were natives of Virginia, and 
moved to Ohio, and from there came to 
Coles Co. in the year 1839 ; they both 
died on the farm adjdining that of Mr. 
Adams, npon which they had settled Aug. 
21, 1843; Mr. Adams was born May 
15, 1822 ; they had eight children, five 
living — John, born Aug. 17 1847 (and 
who married twice, his first wife being 
Miss Henrietta Irwin, whom he married in 
November, 1868, and who died April 25, 
1873 ; his second wife was Miss Martha E. 
Walters, whom he was married to Jan. 16, 
1874; they have three children — Wesley 
E., Mary E. and Dora E.), Rachel E., 
(now Mrs. Levi Moore), born March 11, 
1850 ; James W., born Dec. 10, 1852, 
who married Miss Emily Goodman ; Anor 
L., born July 25, 1860, and David E., 
born Oct. 17, 1862, and three died— Su- 
sanna (formerly Mrs. Rcilv Irwin), born 
July 21, 1844, died Oct. 28, 1877; Mary 
A., born April 11, 1857, died May 7, 
1858; and Seth D., born Jan. 18, 1855, 
and died April 29, 1858. 

ELIAS ANDERSON, farmer; P. 0. 
Diona ; is a native of Ohio, and was born 
in Champaign Co. June 16, 1807 ; he 
remained with his parents until he was 32 
years ot age, his fiither having died about 
the year 1833; he remained with his 
mother until her removal to Michigan, 
where .she died in the year 1844; Mr. 
Anderson, before his removal to this county, 
married, Sept. 20, 1835, Mi.ss Hannah 
Place, her parents being natives of Penn- 
sylvania ; in the year 1839, they came to 
this county and settled where he has ever 
since resided ; they had five children, four 
living — Thomas, born Sept. 6, 1839, Cla- 
rinda, Aug. 14, 1841, Eunice, March 6, 
1843, and Jasper, Dec. 28, 1847, and one 
deceased — Elias, who died Sept. 25, 1868 ; 
his wife died March 19, 1851 ; he mar- 
ried his second wife (the widow of Isaac 
Clark), April, 1852; they had four chil- 
dren, all living — Louisa, born Feb. 26, 
1853, Bartholomew, March 7, 1855. Ra- 
chel, Sept. 25, 1857, and James, Jan. 
30, 1862; his wife died Sept. 25, 1865, 
and on Dec. 13, 1866, he was married to the 
widow of Henry Brant, who was formerly 
Miss Margaret Tombs, of New Jersey. 

MATTHIAS BEAVERS, farmer; P. 
0. Hutton ; was born in Meade Co., Ky., 



June 6, 1823; his parents, William and 
Nancy, came to Clay Co., Ind., while he 
was an infant, and settled near Bowling 
Green, and after remaining there some six 
or seven years, came to Clark Co., and 
lived in the ''Rich Woods," near West- 
field, and about the year 1833, came to 
Coles Co. Mr. Beavers remained with his 
parents up to the age of 21, when he mar- 
ried Miss Elizabeth Endsley, daughter of 
Andrew Endsley, of Hutton Tp., on Jan. 
2, 1845 ; shortly after, he came to his pres- 
ent farm on Sec. 13, where he at present 
resides ; he owns 1 80 acres, mostly im- 
proved. Mr. Beavers remembers well when 
the Indians were encamped near the cabins 
of the settlers, and was present when they 
took up their march at the call of Black 
Hawk. His wife was born Oct. 8, 1820 ; 
they had nine children, six living — Albert, 
born Oct. 15, 1845 ; Matilda J. (now Mrs. 
R. Bennett, of Clark Co.), born Sept. 7, 
1848 ; Isabel (now Mrs. Andrew Lee, of 
Clark Co.), born Aug. 28. 1850; Nancy 
E., born April 24, 1854; Sarah C. (now 
Mrs. Owen Lee, of Hutton Tp.), born Oct. 
15, 1856, and Louis R., born May 1, 1860, 
and three bo3's, who died in infancy. His 
son Albert enlisted in the 54th Regt. 111. 
Vols., aud was discharged on account of 
disability. 

WILLIAM BEAVERS, farmer; P. 
0. Hutton ; is one of the pioneers of this 
county, and was born in Loudoun Co., Va., 
on 23d day of July, 1797 ; at the age of 
17, he left hpme, driving a team to Barren 
Co., Ky., remaining tliere for four or five 
years. In the year 1818, he married Miss 
Nancy Bradcnburg (daughter of Henry 
Bradenburgj, and after remaining at the 
home of her parents one year, rented a 
fiirm for one year, and, in 1820, went to 
Clay Co., Ind., remaining there for seven 
years; in 1827, he came to Clark Co., 111., 
near Westfield, and lived there for three 
years, and, in the year 1830, entered and 
moved upon the land upon which he now 
resides, on Sec. 10, near the village of 
Salisbury ; he owns eighty acres. Mr. 
Beavers first built a log cabin, with a 
" puncheon floor." The Kickapoo Indians 
at that time owned this land and lived all 
around him ; while cutting some " bee- 
trees " in Long Point, this county, he saw 
the " runners " that had been sent by 
Black Hawk calling the Indians together. 



BUTTON TOWNSHIP. 



609 



Mr. Beavers is remarkably active at his 
time of life, now being in his 82d year ; 
his mother died in Virginia while he was 
an infant, and his father in Locust Grove, 
Adams Co., Ohio, where he had moved 
some years before. His wife was born in 
the year 1803; they had seventeen chil- 
dren, seven boys living — Matthias, Henry, 
Solomon, William, Barnett, John and Jo- 
seph ; three girls — Sallie Ann (now Mrs. 
William Ashby), Nancy (now Mrs. Joseph 
Dyer) and Martha J. (^now Mrs. Andrew 
Straderj ; .seven deceased — Rebecca M., J. 
Calviu, Polly, Elizabeth and Fannie, and 
two who died in infancy. 

HENRY BELL, farmer; P.O.Hutton; 
was born in Randolph Co., N. C., in the 
year 1819; his parents Pierce and Re- 
becca moved to Preble Co., Ohio., in the 
year 1820, and after remaining about 
fifteen years, moved to Rush Co., Ind., 
where they lived for about fifteen or twenty 
years ; in 1850, they came to Coles Co. 
and settled on Sec. 16, where his father 
died at the age of 88, his mother dying 
the year afterward. Mr. Bell moved to 
his present farm on Sec. 15 Feb. 14, 1856, 
containing 80 acres. In 1843, he married 
in Indiana Miss Sarah Cox (daughter of 
Isaac Cox, of North Carolina ) ; she died 
in the year 1853 ; they had five children ; 
one living, Mary (now Mrs. N. Dunbar, of 
Charleston), born March, 1866; and four 
died — Jane E., Sarah E., Eh and one that 
died in infancy. He married his second 
wife Mrs. Nancy Brewer (widow of Jesse 
Bell), Feb. 12, 1853; she died Aug. 5, 
1875 ; they had eleven children, all living — 
Jonas v., born Nov. 10, 1854 ; Jesse B., 
Nov. 19, 1856 ; Lucretia, March 17, 1858 ; 
William H., June 10, 1859; Alman, Oct, 
14, 1800 ; Louisa, June 23, 1862; John, 
Oct. 22, 1863; Margaret D., May 14, 
1865; Charles M., Oct. 28, 1866; 
Susanna, August 23, 18(58, and James 
E., born March 4, 1871. 

JAMES BRANDENBURG, farmer; 
P. 0. Diona ; was born in Hardin Co., 
Ky., April 20, 1820 ; when he was about 
3 years of age, his parents moved to 
Clay Co., Ind., and from there, in the year 
1829, came to this county. Mr. Branden- 
burg lived at home, working in the neigb- 
borhood, until he was 18 years of age, 
when he went to Wisconsin and was en- 
gaged in teaming for two years ; in 1844, 



he settled southeast of Salisbury, in this 
township, and lived there for twelve or 
thirteen years, when he purchased a farm 
on Sec. 32, and after being there thirteen 
years, moved to his present farm on Sec. 7, 
where he has resided ever since. Mr. 
Brandenburg is the eldest son of Solomon 
Brandenburg. He married Jan. 29, 1843, 
Miss Neety Cooper, daughter of Jeremiah 
Cooper, a native of North Carolina, who 
settled in Coles Co. in the year 1839; they 
had seven children ; four living — William, 
born' Jan. 22, 1 847,who married Miss Ange- 
lino Buley in 1865 ; Lucinda (now Mrs. 
Isaiah Murphyi, born June 19, 1849; 
Henry L., born Nov. 13, 1854, who mar- 
ried Miss Amanda Gilbert July, 1877 ; 
Neety (now Mrs. Wm. H. Goodman), 
born Sept. 26, 1857 ; three deceased — 
Milton, born Deo. 2, 1844, died Jan. 8, 
1848; Nancy, born Oct. 10, 1851, died 
April 2, 1852, and Amanda, born Feb. 9, 
1853, died March 2, 1853. 

WILLIAM H. BRANDENBURG, 
farmer ; P. 0. Hutton; was born in Clay 
Co., Ind., Oct. 19, 1824, and came to this 
county with his parents at 4 years of age, 
and remained with them up to the age of 
17, when he went to Wisconsin, working 
upon a farm for two years, then returned 
to his parents' home, and, making up a 
team, returned to Wisconsin, and was en- 
gaged in hauhng lead for nine years; in 
1852, he returned to Hutton Tp. and 
worked out for two years, when he settled 
upon the farm on Sec. 13, which he had 
purchased ; he owns 1 50 acres of land. 
He enlisted in Co. H, 10th L V. C, and 
served until the close of our late civil war, 
being mustered out at San Antonio, Tex. 
He married Miss Elizabeth J. Tucker, of 
Indiana, in July, 1849 ; she was born in 
1828; they had nine children, six living 
— Sarah J. (now Mrs. John Jenkins, of 
Hutton Tp.) ; Mary Ann (now Mrs. 
Irvin Morris, of Cumberland Co., 111.), 
born June 14, 1850 ; Zobeda A. (now 
Mrs. Charles Franklin, of Cumberland 
Co., 111.), born March 10, 1853; Wil- 
liard A., July 12, 1858; Amanda M., 
Aug. 30, 1861 ; Almorinda, April 7, 
18(58 ; three dead — Lydia E., John W. 
and Alazan. 

SOLOMON BRANDENBURG, 
farmer ; P. . Hutton ; is the fifth son of 
Solomon B. Brandenburg, one of the 



610 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



early settlers of this county, and was born 
in Hutton Tp. Sept. 3, 1830; at the age 
of 19 he went to Wisconsin and engaged 
in hauling lead with his brothers C. P. 
and Wm. H., during the summer, for nine 
years ; in the year 1858, he purchased the 
farm upoa which he now resides, on Sec. 
13. He married Mrs. Sallie Smith 
(daughter of James Cox and widow of 
George Smith), Feb. 5, 1850; they had 
seven children, five living — Ford, born 
Dec. 27, 1850; Polly, June 23, 1855 ; 
Hester A., Aug. 26, 1860 ; Ulysses G., 
Nov. 2, 1863, and Rose, born June 30, 
1866, and two deceased — James and Bar- 
thena. His son Ford married Miss Louisa 
A. Cooper Nov. 17, 1873; he has two 
children — Marion O., born Oct. 11, 1874, 
and Sallie M., born Jan. 4, 1876. 

C. P. BRANDENBURG, farmer ; P. 
O. Hutton ; was born in Clay Co., Ind., 
Aug. 24, 1828 ; his parents, Solomon O. 
and Alezan, were among the first settlers 
of this county, havina; settled in the year 
1829, on Sec. 14 of Hutton Tp.; his 
father died in 1861, and his mother went 
to reside with his brother William H., and 
died in May, 1875 ; Mr. Brandenburg 
lived with his parents up to the age of 17, 
when he went to Wisconsin and engaged 
in hauling lead during the summer for 
eleven seasons, returning to his father's 
during the winter months ; his journey 
back and forth was through a total wilder- 
ness, where for miles not a farmhouse was 
to be seen, encamping at night; in 1856, 
he settled on Sec. 14, in this township, 
having ]iurchased a firm and improved it, 
there being only a log cabin upon it, which 
is still standing, now occupied by John 
Jenkins, on Sec. 14; he owns 210 acres 
of land. He married his first wife. Miss 
Mary Cox, of Hutton Tp , on Feb. 28, 
1850; she died July 5, 1875; they had 
twelve children, seven living — Almorinda, 
born Sept. 11, 1856; Charles P., born 
Jan. 13, 1858 ; Theodore, Nov. 25, 1860; 
William N., Aug. 25, 1862 ; George E., 
Jan. 11, 1864 ; Clayborn, Dec. 13, 1866, 
and Edward, born Oct. 13, 1872, and five 
deceased — John, born July tH, 1855, died 
Oct. 16, 1855; Thomas J., born July 29, 
1852, died Oct. 8, 1870, and three died 
in infancy. He married his .second wife, 
Mi.ss Nancy J. Baker, of Hutton Tp., 
July 22, 1877 ; she was born in April, 



1845 ; they have one child — Henry, born 
Feb. 18, 1878. 

ABRAHAM BExVNETT, minister of 
United Brethren Church, Westfield ; was 
born in Meade Co. Ky., Nov. 15,1828; 
after remaining at home until the age of 
18, he started out in life for himself, flat- 
boating on the Ohio and Mississippi Riv- 
ers for some five or sis years ; in the year 
1852, he commenced traveling in the min- 
istry of the United Brethren Church, hav- 
ing from his youth been connected with 
that Church ; in the same year, leaving 
his family in Kentucky, he traveled cir- 
cuit for some six years in Indiana, when, 
having returned to Kentucky, was engaged 
in missionary work through that State for 
three successive yeare ; having sold his 
farm, he moved his family to Harrison 
Co., Ind., in what is widely known as the 
" Rippidan Valley," and continued travel- 
ing circuit up to the fall of 1864, when he 
moved to Hutton Tp., Coles Co., and 
settled upon his present farm when it was 
a dense wood ; at first, before the estab- 
lishment of a circuit in Hutton Tp., Mr. 
Bennett engaged in missionary work until 
it became a circuit, when he filled the po- 
sition of a local minister, and was greatly 
instrumental in building the " West Lib- 
erty Chapel " of the U. B. Church, and 
also "Weaver Chapel" on the edge of 
" Park Prairie." He married Miss Martha 
Jane Chism (daughter of John Cliism, of 
Meade Co., Ky. ), on July 4, 1850 ; she 
was born Jan. 5, 1831 ; they had eight 
children, four boys, three living — John J., 
James Hand, David S. ; one died — George 
W. ; and four girls, two living — Laura 
A. and Martha J., and two died — Mary 
E. and I'urva C. 

GEORGE BIDLE, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Westfield ; w;is born in Wurt- 
emberg, Germany, Sept. 25, 1833 ; he 
remained there until he was 17 years of 
a<;e ; his parents having died in Germany 
Mr. Bidle emigrated to the United Slates, 
landing in New York City in^.\pril, 1852, 
and first went to New Jersey, remaining 
there four months working upon a farm, 
after which he went to Louisville, Ky., and 
worked at the wagon-maker's trade for two 
years, when he came to Westfield. Clark 
Co., III., and from there, in the fall of 1 865, 
moved to Coles (Jo., and settled upon the 
farm upon which he now resides, farming 



HUTTON TOWNSHIP. 



611 



250 acres, all but twenty acres inclosed ; 
has been Justice of the Peace for nine 
years, and at present School Director. He 
married Christiana Airey, of Perry Co., 
Ohio, in Hutton Tp. of this county, Jan. 
17, 1856 ; they have three children — 
Henry, born April 22, 1857 ; Richard A., 
Sept. 2, 1858 ; and Charles, Oct. 20, 18fi0. 

MRS. SARAH ANN BRYANT ; P.O. 
Westfield, Clark Co. ; was the daughter of 
Samuel Jack, of Ohio, who was a native 
of Virginia ; she came to Coles Co. with 
her parents when she was 1 9 years of age, 
where they both died. She married James 
Parker May 2G, 1842 ; he was the son of 
George Parker, and died May 7, 1864; 
they had ten children, two only living — 
Matilda J., now Mrs. John Anderson, of 
Hutton Tp. ; Harriet R., now Mrs. Wm. 
Mars, of Johnson Co., Mo. ; eight de- 
ceased — Jonathan, who enlisted in Co. 
"F," 123d Regt. 111. Vols., was killed at 
the battle of Perryville, Oct. 8, 1862; 
William J., Jeptha, Samuel, Emeline, Sa- 
rah (^who married Ashbury Lemaster, of 
Jasper Co., 111., January, 1869), Melissa 
A., and one that died in infancy. She 
married her second husband, Mr. John 
Bryant, of Indiana, August, 1806 ; he died 
Dec. 9, 1869. Mr. Parker was a Deacon 
of Good Hope Baptist Church for many 
years ; Mr. Bryant was a Methodist and 
Mrs. Bryant a Baptist. 

E. R. CONNELY, farmer ; P. 0. West- 
field; was born in Lawrence Co., Ind., 
March 6, 1829 ; his parents, -Joel and Ef- 
fie Connely, came to this county in the 
spring of 1832, and were among its earliest 
pioneers ; having raised one crop, they re- 
turned to Indiana, and, in the fall of same 
year, brought out their family, consisting 
of sis boys and five girls accompanied 
also by their grandfather and grandmother 
Pennington ; they made the journey the 
whole distance in wagons, driving their 
stock, composed both of sheep and cattle, 
with them. His grandfather Pennington 
was a Baptist minister, and among the 
first in this township. The subject of this 
sketch was the youngest of the boys, be- 
ing only 4 years of age at the time of 
their removal to this county ; he continued 
to reside with his parents up to the time of 
their death, his father dying June 8, 1853, 
and his mother, Oct. 14, 1875, at the ripe 
old age of 88 ; Mr. Connely has resided 



upon the homestead ever since, containing 
at the present time 380 acres; his father's 
estate consisted of 1,500 acres, and was 
divided among his children prior to his 
decease. Mr. Connely has held the posi- 
tion of Supervisor of this county and is at 
the present time School Director, and has 
been such since 1856. He has been mar- 
ried twice, his first wife being Miss Rebecca 
Piatt, daughter of John Piatt ; they were 
married near Salisbury (now Hutton P. 
O.), Hutton Tp., Oct. 24, 1850 ; she died 
Sept. 29, 1875 ; they had eleven children, 
six boys, all living — Emory P., Maiden T., 
Oscar v., Ellis J. and Willis J. (twins) 
and Eddie A., and five girls, four living 
— Addie B. (now Mrs. W. Pentzer, of 
Iroquois Co., 111.), Ollie M., lona and Bep- 
pie ; his second wife was Miss Susan Re- 
becca McConnell, daughter of Michael 
McConnell, of Harrison Co., Ohio ; they 
were married at Cadiz, Harrison Co., Ohio, 
Aug. 24, 1876 ; they have one child — 
Sarah. His parents were both zealous 
members of the Baptist Church, having 
connected themselves with that Church 
shortly after their marriage ; his mother, 
however, embraced religion at the earlyage 
of 11, and lived the exemplary life of a 
Christian to the day of her death. His 
father held the office of Justice of the 
Peace for many years, in Lawrence Co., 
Ind., and continued the same in Coles Co. 
for a number of years after his removal 
here. 

JEREMIAH C. COOPER, farmer; 
P. 0. Hutton ; was born in Franklin Co., 
N. C, April 25, 1786, being now 93 
years of age, hale and hearty ; he re- 
mained with his parents up to the age of 
21, working upon farms in the neighbor- 
hood, when he purchased a farm in Ran- 
dolph Co., N. C, and lived there until 
1841, when he came to Coles Co., and on 
April 22 of same year purchased the 
farm on Sec. 24, upon which he has ever 
since resided. While living in Randolph 
Co. he was elected Sergeant of the 1st Regt. 
of North Carolina Militia, and was pro- 
moted to Orderly Sergeant of the regi- 
ment, then Ensign or 2d Lieutenant, and 
then elected Captain, and from that to 
Colonel, which position he however would 
not accept on account of the expense 
attached to it ; he was Justice of the 
Peace for fifteen years (appointed by both 

7 



612 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



branches of the State Legislature), and 
retained the same up to his removal to 
Coles Co. in 1841. He has been married 
three times ; his first wife was Miss 3IcDe- 
laney Wakehaster, whom he married 
April 15, 1809 ; she died in May, 1846; 
they had ten children; five boys — Jesse, 
born April 23, 1813; John, Sept. 6, 
1818; Larkin, June 3, 1820; Frank, 
June 11, 1826 ; Henry L., Dec. 25, 1828; 
and five girls, four living — Fanny, born 
Feb. 7, 1810; Neety, Dec. 18, 1823; 
Mary, Aug. 30, 1831; Susan, born in 
1816, and one that died in infancy; he 
married his second wife. Miss Tabitha 
Hulen (widow of Darius Whipple), Feb- 
ruary, 1847 ; she died Dec. 16, 1853 ; they 
had four children, three living — Eveline, 
born Dec. 20, 1847; Bird M., June 6, 
1851 ; Alexander, June 22, 1853 ; one 
died, Jeremiah T.,born May 15, 1849, died 
Aug. 21, 1878 ; he married his third wife. 
Miss Mary M. Marrs (widow of Isaac 
Flinn,) Sept. 1, 1857; she died Feb. 5, 
1875; they had one child, Hezekiah, born 
June 17, 1858, died March 30. 1871. 

F. E. COTTINGH AM, farmer ; P. 0. 
Hutton ; was born in this township March 
17, 1849; his father, John J., was born 
in Kentucky Nov. 23, 1816, and his 
mother, Sarah J., in Harrison Co., Ind., 
in 1821 ; his father first went to New 
Albany, Ind., and Louisville, Ky., working 
at brickmaking and as abrickmason, and, 
in the year 1836, came to this county and 
first settled near Westfield, Clark Co., and 
from there to this township ; in the year 
1859, he moved toCharleston, Coles Co., and 
died on Oct. 9, lb63; his mother is still 
living, and is at the present time married 
to John Moore; the subject of this sketch 
lived with his parents, and at present re- 
sides upon the homestead. He married 
Miss Emza H. Co.x (daughter of Wm. R. 
Cox, of Hutton Tp.) March 27, 1873; 
they have three children — Emma E., born 
June 2, 1874 ; Hannah 0., Sept. 24, 1875, 
and Klzada, born Dec. 17, 1877. Mr. 
Cottiiigham learned the trade of a brick- 
mason with his father, and wurks at that 
trade in connection with his farming; he 
has held the office of Town Clerk for four 
consecutive years, and is such at the pres- 
ent time ; he also taught school for five 
terms, three in Hutton Tp., and two in 
Union Tp., Cumberland Co., 111. His 



paternal grandparents lived with his jiar- 
ents until their death, his grandfather dying 
August, 1859, and his grandmother May 
16, 1867, and his grandfather on his 
mother's side died Nov. 9, 1863 ; a crip- 
pled uncle, Anthony, lived also with the 
parents of Mr. Cottingham, and still resides 
with their sons. 

JAMES A. COX, farmer; P. 0. West, 
field, Clark Co. ; was born in Hutton Tp. 
Oct. 26, 1846; his parents came to this 
county about the year 1829, and were 
among the first settlers ; his mother died 
Feb. 2, 1877; his father is still living in 
Cumberland Co., 111. ; the subject of this 
sketch remained with his parents until he 
was 25 years of age, when he married Miss 
Lucinda R. Morris (daughter of James 
Morris, of Clark Co.) March 21, 1872 ; 
shortly after his marriage, he moved to a 
farm on Sec. 11, remaining there until 
the fall of 1872, when he moved from 
there, in the month of March, 1877, 
and came to where he now resides, on 
Sec. 12, farming seventy acres. His wife 
was born Oct. 1, 1855; they had three 
children, two living — Lillie M. (born May, 
15, 1873), Eva J. (born Aug. 16, 1877), 
and one deceased — Ella (born Jan. 31, 
1875 ; died June 27, 1876). His brother 
Anthony, was born in August, 1837, 
and lived with his ]iarents up to 1862, 
when he enlisted in Co. K. 123d I. V. 
I., and was killed at the battle of Per- 
ry ville, Oct. 8, 1862, and lies buried in 
Parker Grave-yard, Hutton Tp. Mr. Cox's 
father was a native of Kentucky, and his 
mother of Alabama; liis father settled on 
Sec. 1 of this township, and, after his mar- 
riage, moved to Sec. 2, and from there to 
Cumberland Co., in 1878, near Prairie 
City, and is still living at the age of 65 
His family consisted of six girls — Mar- 
tha J. (now Mrs. J. Strader), Lucinda 
(now Mrs. William Rhoden), Phoebe (now 
Mrs. Wm. L. Lenan), Jemima (now Mrs. 
Daniel Lee), Ella and Dovey, and three 
boys, one living, the subject of this sketch, 
as above. 

ADAM COX, farmer; P. O. West- 
field ; was born in Hutlon Tp. July 26, 
1840. His father, Anthony, was one of 
the first settlers of this county, a native 
of Virginia ; he was married twice, his first 
wife being Miss Gilbert, and his second 
wife Miss Eliza Fuqua ; his father died 



huttDn township. 



613 



when the subject of this sketch was quite 
an infant; his mother still lives near her 
son, between 65 and 70 years old ; at the 
age of 21, Mr. Cox married Miss Mary 
Garrison (daughter of Peter Garrison, an- 
other of the early settlers), on Dec. 5, 
1861, and soon after moved upon a farm, 
on Sec. 2, and, two years afterward, moved 
on to Sec. 1, and in March, 1878, came 
to where he now resides, on same section ; 
he owns 294 acres, 224 of which is im- 
proved. His wife was bora Dec. 26, 1842; 
they had seven children, six living — • 
Charles W., born Sept. 28, 1862; Orval, 
April 3, 1867 ; Luella M., Sept. 16, 1868; 
Claudius C, Nov. 4,1871; Azaro, Oct. 
28, 1872, and Almorinda, Nov. 10, 1875, 
and one deceased, Barthena, born Feb. 12, 
1864; died, June 28, 1864. 

WM. K. COX, farmer; P. 0. Hutton; 
was born in Bedford Co., Virginia, Feb. 
25, 1832 ; when he was 16 years of age, 
his parents, Joel and Margaret Cox, moved 
to Ross Co., Ohio, living there eight years ; 
they came to Coles Co. in 1856, and, three 
years afterward moved to Independence, 
Warren Co., where they died, his mother 
in 1874, and his father in March, 1876. 
While living in Ohio, Mr. Cox married 
Miss Hannah C. Thompson, April 28, 
1853 ; she was a daughter of Nathan 
Thompson, who was a native of Virginia, 
and moved to Ross Co., Ohio, at an early 
day ; he remained there three years ; en- 
gaged in farming and milling, and in the year 
1856, moved to Coles Co., Hutton Tp., 
and in September, 1870, purchased and 
moved upon his present farm on Sees. 22 
and 23, containing 129 acres. For twelve 
years, before coming to his present home, 
he carried on the " Blakeman Flouring- 
Mill," three and one-half miles southeast 
of Charleston in this county. Soon after 
the organization of the townships, he was 
elected Commissioner of Highw.ays, serving 
three years ; he was elected Supervisor in 
1877, for two terms. His wife was born 
Oct. 19, 1834 ; they had six children, five 
Uving — Emza H. (now Mrs. Fred. Cot- 
tingham), born June 28, 1854; Mary C. 
(now Mrs. Daniel Pipher"), born March 9, 
1856; Joel F., born Feb. 25, 1858; 
Elizabeth T. (now Mrs. Flavius Boyd), 
born April 26, 1860, William A., born 
Aug. 14, 1872, and one deceased, p]mmaH., 
born July 14, 1862, died April 17, 1868. 



C. P. DAVIS, farmer ; P. 0. Hutton ; 
was the eldest of nine boys, and was born 
in Lawrence Co., Ind., Sept. 13, 1829. 
In 1829, while he was still an infant, his 
parents, John C. and Elizabeth Davis, 
moved to what was then Clark Co., and 
settled in what is now Hutton Tp., of 
Coles Co., and first having lived in differ- 
ent localities in the township, about the 
year 1840, settled on Sec. 34, where they 
lived up to the time of their death, Mr. 
Davis dying Nov. 30, 1871, Mrs. 
Davis' death having occurred January, 
1862. Mr. Davis was among the first 
settlers of this county, at that time an 
unbroken wilderness inhabited by the red 
man. He entered 80 acres of land, and 
made a farm, improving the same, and en- 
during all the hardships and privations in- 
cident to the pioneers of this Western wild. 
The subject of this sketch lived with his 
parents up to the time of his marriage with 
Miss Elizabeth Conley, Dec. 28, 1850; 
in the spring of 1852, Mr. Davis moved to 
his farm, on Sec. 27, where he has ever 
since resided. His wife was a daughter of 
John Conley, of Hutton Tp., now residing 
in Butler Co., Mo.; she was born Dec. 
15, 1832 ; they had seven children, five 
boys, all living — John W., Henry, James 
N., Charles N., and David E. ; two girls — 
Nancy, living, and one that died in infancy. 

J. W. DALLAS, former ; P. 0. West- 
field ; was born in Hutton Tp., Coles Co., 
Jan. 16, 1849; his parents, Hiram and 
Sarah, were natives of Ohio, and, in the 
year 1839, came to Coles Co. ; in the 
spring of 1840, they moved to Clark Co., 
where, after remaining five years, again re- 
turned to Hutton Tp., of this county, and 
settled on Sec. 35, where they lived up to 
the time of the death of Mr. Dalla.s, which 
occurred March 5, 1878; the subject of 
this sketch was born on the homestead, 
where he still resides, containing 120 acres, 
his mother living with him. He married 
Miss Elizabeth J. Bishop (daughter of 
Amos Bishop, of Hutton Tp.) June 6, 
1867; she was born Feb. 26, 1851 ; they 
had four children— three boys, one living 
— William E. ; two deceased — Charles and 
Joseph, and one girl — Rosella, living. 

T. L. ENDSLEY, merchant, SalLbury 
was born in Co.shocton Co., Ohio, Nov 
21, 1842; his parents, Thomas and Ma 
tilda, were natives of Harrison Co., Ohio 



614 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



his father was born in August, 1801, and j 
is still living in Coshocton Co., Ohio, hav- 
ing lost his eyesight in the year 1876 ; his 
mother died about the year 1854; the 
subject of this sketch remained with his 
parents until he was 25 years of age, when 
he came to Hutton Tp. in the fall of 1866, 
and, the first winter, taught school ; in the 
spring of 1867, he went to Westfield, 
Clark Co., 111., and carried on a general 
merchandise business until late in the fall. 
He then married Miss Mary J. Eudsley 
(daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth Ends- 
ley, of Hutton Tp.) Oct. 24, 1867 ; di- 
rectly after his marriage, he came to Salis- 
bury, in this township, and lived upon his 
farm for three years, when he moved to 
Charleston, and for nearly five years 
clerked for Frommel & Wei-ss and J. F. 
Neal ; in the year 1875, he came back to 
Salisbury and opened a general merchan- 
dise store, in which he is still engaged ; 
his wife was born Oct. 20, 1844, and died 
Jan. 31, 1876, leaving two children — 
Elizabeth (born Oct. 16, 1868) and Clar- 
ence (born Nov. 25, 1870), both residing 
with their a:randparents, Endslev. 

DANIEL EVINGER, farm'er, carpen- 
ter and millwright ; P. 0. Westfield ; is a 
native of Ohio, having been born in Ham- 
ilton Co., of that State, Sept. 10, 1820. In 
November, 1831, when he w;is 11 years of 
age, his parents moved to Coles Co., and 
settled upon Sec. 19, Hutton Tp., where 
Mr. Daniel Evinger now resides. His 
parents died upon the home.stead, his 
father in the year 1835, his mother in the 
j'car 1855. His father carried on the 
business of carpenter and luillwright, and 
was also a minister of the United Brethren 
Church in Hamilton Co., Ohio. After 
coming to this county, he was mostly en- 
gaged in farming, although he turned his 
experience in his trade of carpenter to 
good advantage in putting up the frame of 
his residence and barn ; the b-irn still 
standing, its frame apparently as strong as 
ever, and is one of the few buildings of 
that day now standing in Hutton Tp. ; he 
also filled regular appointments of a minis- 
ter up to the time of his death, and formed 
the nucleus of the United Brethren 
Church of this county, and the first ela.ss 
was organized in the year 1832 in his 
house ; he also established the first Sab- 
bath school in Hutton Tp., in the spring 



of 1832, near Otterbein Cemetery. The 
object of this sketch, with the exception ol 
five years, when he resided in Clark Co., 
111., has resided upon the homestead. From 
the year 1853 to 1858, he was a partner in 
a steam-flouring and saw mill in Westfield, 
Clark Co., 111. ; having sold out his in- 
terest he was engaged in merchandising for 
five or six years, since which time he has 
been engaged in farming and carpentering. 
Mr. Evinger, with his brother and his son, 
built all the bridges and culverts from 
Westfield to Kansas, for the D., O. & M. 
Narrow- Gauge Railroad ; he also superin- 
tended the building of the Westfield Col- 
lege ; has been School Trea-surer for a num- 
ber of years. He married Miss Mary 
Jones, near Hitesville, March 11, 1841; 
she was the daughter of William Jones, of 
Jefferson Co., Ky., who moved to Coles 
Co., in 1831, and settled one mile south of 
Hitesville. They had a family of eleven 
children, five boys, all living, viz., William 
H., John F., Frederick A., Benjamin H. 
and David M., and six girls, but one living, 
Catharine J. (now Mrs. A. G. Brown, of 
Westfield, Clark Co., 111.), and five dead, 
Sarah E. (formerly Mrs. Ezra Shuey, of 
Cumberland, Co., 111.), Mary E. and Ora 
S., the remaining two dying in infancy. 

J. B. FLENNER, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Westfield ; was born in But- 
ler Co., Ohio, Nov. 18, 1829 ; up to the 
age of 24, he remained engaged in farming 
with his parents; in 1853, they started 
West, stopping in Clark Co. for five years, 
when thiy moved to Coles Co., reaching 
here in August, 1858, and settled ou a 
farm in Sec. 30, Hutton Tp., near "Otter- 
bein Cemetery," where his mother died 
Aug. I, 1859; shortly after, Mr. Flenner 
settled upon the farm where he now re- 
sides, his father, since the death of his 
mother, residing with him ; his farm con- 
tains 570 acres, all improved, upon which 
he has built what is considered the finest 
residence in this section of the county ; 
has been School Director for three or four 
terms. He married Miss Ursula Moure 
(daughter of Levi D. Moore, of Butler 
Co., Ohioj, Feb. 17, 1853; they had five 
children — three boys and two girls ; two 
boys living — Wilbur F. and Charles B., 
one dying in infancy ; and two girls both 
living — Alice F. (now Mrs. Albert Con- 
nelly, of Hoopeston, Vermilion Co. 111.), 



BUTTON TOWNSHIP. 



615 



and Ella. Mr. Flenner has been enp;ac;ed 
in breeding Poland-China hogs for nearly 
forty years, and was instrumental in de- 
veloping and establishing this breed of 
hogs in Coles Co ; he raises on an average 
250 hogs of this breed each year ; one 
year the average weight was 598 pounds, 
and average age IS months. Mr. Flenner's 
parents connected themselves early in life 
with the Methodist Church, and were 
always consistent and upright members of 
that denomination. 

J. S. GARNER, M. D., Salisbury; was 
born in Russell Co., Ky., Oct. 14, 1831 ; 
at the age of 18, he went to Lancaster, 
Garrard Co., Ky., where he studied medi- 
cine in the oflSce of J. S. Pierce, M. D., 
for three years ; after which, he attended 
a course of lectures in Louisville, Ky., and 
commenced the practice of medicine in 
Wayne Co., Ky., and continued there up 
to the year 1803, when, having recruited 
Co. K, 48th Regt. Ky. Vols., was elected 
its First Lieutenant, and, having served 
for eighteen months in our late civil war, 
moved to Salisbury, Coles Co., and has been 
practicing medicine there ever since. He 
has held the oiEce of Postmaster for ten 
years, and holds it at the present time. He 
man-ied in Wayne Co., Ky., April 24, 
1854, Miss Minnie E. Roberts, daughter 
of 'Squire Roberts ; they have seven chil- 
dren — Mary E., Emma A., John P. L., 
Minnie M., Viola B., Edwin M. S. and 
Lulu M. 

EZEKIEL GILBERT, farmer ; P. 0. 
Charleston; was born in Lawrence Co., 
Ind., Nov. 20, 1828; in the year 1830, 
his parents, Simon and Elizabeth Gilbert, 
who were natives ot Kentucky, moved to 
Vermilion Co., 111., and, in 1838, came i,o 
Coles Co., and settled on the farm now oc- 
cupied by Joshua Johns, on Sec. 9, and 
six years afterward moved to the farm on 
Sec. 7, where their son Ezekiel now resides ; 
Mr. Gilbert lived with them up to the time 
of their death. He married Oct. 28, 1847, 
Miss Nancy,H. Stone, daughter of Stephen 
Stone, a native of Kentucky, who settled 
in Coles Co. in 1832 ; she was born Dec. 
26, 1831 ; they had thirteen children, nine 
living — Coleman, born Jan. 28, 1851 ; 
Edward H., born Jan. 24, 1853, who mar- 
ried Miss Emeline Strader, of Hutton Tp., 
March 19, 1871 ; Sarah E. (now Mrs. H. 
Bennett), born Jan. 10,1858; Amanda 



E. (now Mrs. H."L. Brandenburg), born 
Oct. 27, I860; Emma J., born'Oct. 4, 
1862; Rosa B., Oct. 7, 1865; Susan E., 
Dee. 2, 1867 ; William 0., Aug. 24, 1872, 
and one infant unnamed ; four deceased 
—John W., born Feb. 27, 1849, died 
Feb. 14, 1863; Mary F., born Jan. 10, 
1855, died July 28, 1855 ; Eliza J., born 
Oct. 9, 1856, died Nov. 5, 1856, and one 
unnamed. 

ANDREW GOSSETT, farmer ; P. 0. 
Hutton ; was born in Coshocton Co., Ohio, 
Aug. 8, 1836 ; when he was 4 years of 
age, his parents, Luke and Jane, moved to 
Coles Co. and settled on Sec. 15, Hutton 
Tp., where they have resided ever since. 
Mr. Gossett married Miss Polly Kiser 
(daughter of William Kiser, of Hutton 
Tp.) Nov. 1,1860. The March follow- 
ing, they moved to his farm on Sec. 23, 
where he now resides, upon which he has 
made all its present improvements ; he has 
been School Director five years ; he owns 
190 acres of land. His wife was born 
July 4, 1842; they had seven children, 
five living — Jane, born March 18, 1864; 
Emery S., Dec. 21, 1867 ; Clara, Dec. 29, 
1872 ; Henry L., Nov. 13, 1875, and Ed- 
win, June 14, 1878, and two deceased — 
William, born March 10, 1862, died June 
14,1868; Mary, born March 7, 1870, 
died Jan. 2, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Gossett 
are members of the United Brethren 
Church. 

WILLIAM GOSSETT, farmer; P. 0. 
Hutton ; was born in this township June 
3, 1850 ; he lived with his parents up to 
the age of 24, assisting them in farming, 
and teaching school for four winter terms, 
two of them in the northeast part of the 
township on Sec. 22, and two on Sec. 14. 
While at home, he married Miss Martha 
Ingram (daughter of Arthur Ingram, of 
Hutton Tp.), April 16, 1874; she was 
born Jan. 9, 1855; they had two chil- 
dren, one living — Elizabeth J., born Aug. 
11, 1875, and one deceased — Jesse L., 
born Aug. 8, 1877, and died Aug. 18, 
1878. Mr. (jossett owns 80 acres of land. 

JOHN HUTTON, farmer; P.O. Diona ; 
is one of the pioneers of this county, and 
after whom this township was named ; he 
was born in Montgomery Co., Ky., Jan. 
20, 1801 ; in the year 1816, his parents 
moved to Crawford Co., 111., where his 
father died January, 1819 ; his mother and 



616 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



family remained there until the year 1834, 
when they came to Coles Co., and settled 
on Sec. 20, where his mother died Nov., 
1853, at the age of 77 ; Mr. Hutton still 
resides upon the homestead ; he held the 
office of Supervisor the three first terms 
after the organization of the township ; in 
the year 1824, Mr. Hutton was upon the 
spot upon which the city of Charleston, in 
this county, now stands ; at that time not 
another white man was to be found in the 
neighborhood, inhabited only by the Kick- 
apoo Indians, who were owners of the soil. 
He married the widow of Isaac Baker 
April 18, 1843; she was a daughter of 
Georjie Cottingham, a native of Kentucky, 
who came to Coles Co. in the year 1837 ; 
she was born Oct. 27, 1813 ; she had one 
child by Mr. Baker — Levi H., now living 
in California, and nine children by Mr. 
Hutton — six boys, all living — George W., 
born April 18, 1844 ; James Alexander, 
Nov. 19, 1847 ; Isaac Y., Jan. 6, 1850 ; 
John A., March 13, 1852 ; and Alfred and 
Albert (twins), born March 24, 1855, and 
three girls, one living — Martha E., born 
Sept. 30, 1860; two died ; Sarah E. died 
when tour months old, and Mary Jane, 
(formerly Mrs. Wm. M. Sanders), born 
May 15, 1846, died Nov. 27, 1878, leav- 
ing five children — David C, Oscar, Laura 
E., Annie and Willie. 

JOHN INGHAM, farmer and school- 
teacher ; P. 0. Charleston ; was born in 
Vermilion Co., 111., Oct. 16, 1836; his 
parents moved to Coles Co., when he was 
18 munth.s old, and settled on Sec. 33; 
his mother died there in February, 1855; 
his father is still living on Sec. 34, at the 
age of 65 ; the subject of this sketch still 
resides upon the homestead ; he has taught 
school ever since he was 22 years of age. 
Married Mi.ss AIniorinda Garrison of Hut- 
ton Tp. (daughter of Peter Garrison) Oct. 
1, 1857 ; she was born Jan. 9, 1839 ; her 
father, Peter Garrison, was born near Syr- 
acuse, State of New York, May 4, 1804, 
and went to Lawrence Co., Ind., and from 
there to Crawford Co., 111., and, in the year 
1835, moved to Coles Co., and settled on 
Sec. 11, where he died November, 1858; 
her mother still lives at the age of 65 ; 
Mr. Ingram's family consisted of six chil- 
dren — five boys, four living — Maiden S., 
born Feb. 2, 1862 ; Alva C, April 12, 
1864; Arthur S., April 3, 1866; and 



Thomas 0., born March 12, 1870 ; one 
deceased— Emery T., born Oct. 21, 1859, 
died Dec. 29, 1872 ; and one girl, Laura, 
born May 24, 1868. His farm contains 
134 acres. 

JOSHUA JOHNS, farmer; P. 0. 
Charleston ; was born in Pendleton Co., 
Va.,June 6, 1821. When he was 18 
years of age, he went to Bath Co., Vir- 
ginia, working on the farm of William 
Friel, whose daughter Isabel he married, 
Sept. 15, 1840, and after living there for 
three years moved to Pleasant Grove Tp. 
in this county, remaining there for twelve 
years when he came to Hutton Tp., and 
after settling on Sec. 33 remained there 
fourteen years, and in March, 1867, came 
to his present farm on Sec. 9 ; he owns 692 
acres ; has held the office of Supervisor one 
term, and School Director for many years, 
and is so at the present time. His wife 
was born Aug. 19, 1824; they had four- 
teen children — seven boys, four living — 
George A., born March 19, 1848 ; James 
H., July 13, 1851; Leander, Dec. 21, 
1853, and Edwin S., born Sept. 23, 1867 ; 
three deceased — -James W., born Jan. 27, 
1844, died Sept. 28, 1846; Seton, born 
Oct. 11, 1858, died Nov. 28, 1859, and 
one that died in infancy ; and seven girls, 
five living — Jemima (now Mrs. Wm. 
Bishop), born April 12, 1855; Virginia, 
(now Mrs. Frederick Thompson ), born 
Aug. 27, 1857 ; Sarah Ann, born Sept. 
13,1860; Mary E., Dec. 19, 1863; and 
Emily A., born Nov. 18, 1869, and two 
deceased — Martha B., born June 16, 1841, 
died March 10, 1865; Minerva, born April 
27, 1849, died Sept. 28, 1849. Mr. Johns' 
parents, James and Jane, came to Coles Co., 
in November, 1844, and settled on Sec. 33 
in this township, where they both died, hia 
father, March 24, 1859, his mother, Sept. 
13, 1872; they had three sons — James 
and William, deceased, and Joshua, the 
subject of this sketch. 

FRANKLIN JOHNS, farmer ; P. 0. 
Hutton ; was born in Pendleton Co., Va., 
June 6, 1828 ; when he was 7 years 
old, his parents moved to Gallia Co., Ohio, 
and remained there three years, and in the 
year 1838, came to Coles Co., and the 
first winter settled on Sec. 33, where they 
lived up to the time of their death, his 
mother dying May 2, 1854, and his father 
but three days after. The subject of this 



BUTTON TOWNSHIP. 



617 



sketch was married Nov. 22, 1849, to ! 
Miss Nancy Connely, daughter of John ' 
Connely, of Button Tp., on the homestead, 
and a few days afterward removed to his pres- 
ent farm, where he has ever since resided, 
now containing 140 acres. He has held : 
the ofiSce of Supervisor of the County for i 
one year. He had a family of ten chil- i 
dren, six boys, five living — Edmund R., | 
Jeremiah S., James W., Joseph M. and ; 
Emery A., and one deceased — Silas L.; | 
and four girls — Sarah J., Armilda, Mary t 
E. and Harriet Ann. Mr. Johns' fother 
was one of the pioneers of this county, 
and endured the many hard.ships and pri 
vations of that early day. 

SETON JOHNS, farmer; P. 0. ' 
Charleston ; was born in Augusta Co. Va., 
Nov. 22, 1832 ; he is the second son, and 
came with his parents to Gallia Co., Ohio, 
when he was 2 years of age, and from 
there to Hutton Tp. in the year 1838, and 
lived with them up to the time of their 
death, which occurred in May, 1854, his 
parents dying within three days of each ' 
other. The same fall Mr. Johns married 
Miss Armilda Rennels ( daughter of Wm. 
Rennels, of Hutton Tp.), and immediately 
after moved to his farm, one-fourth mile 
east of his present location, moving to his 
present h^me on Sec. 33 in the year 1858, 
where he has resided ever since ; his farm 
contains 160 acres, all but 40 of which are 
improved. He has held the office of As- 
sessor one term. His wife was born April 
9, 1837 ; they had eleven children, nine 
living ; two boys, one living — Philip S. — 
and one that died in infancy ; nine girls, 
eight living — Martha E. (now Mrs. C. H. 
Gwin, of Hutton Tp.), Elizabeth, Delilah, 
Mary J., Alberta, Lilian B., and Nora and 
Flora, twins ; one deceased^Rebecca J. 
His family are members of the United 
Brethren Church. His brother, Silas 
Johns, was the youngest of the three boys, 
beingborn Aug.18, 1834, andcamealso with 
his father's family to Coles Co.; in 1855, 
he went to Kansas and Missouri, living 
there three years; being taken sick, his 
brother Seton went to Kansas and brought 
him back to Hutton Tp., where died he of 
consumption in the year 1860, and lies 
buried in Whetstone Creek Cemetei'y, in ' 
Hutton Tp.. 

WILLIAM KISER, farmer; P. 0. 
Charleston ; was born in Botetourt Co., 



Va., March 11, 1814; the same year, his 
parents moved to Ross Co., Ohio, remain- 
ing there until 1842. Mr. Kiser lived with 
his parents up to the time of his marriage 
with Miss Mary Ann Coon, of Ross Co., 
Ohio, which occurred Aug. 22, 1841 ; in 
October, 1846, they moved to Coles Co., 
and settled on Sec. 31, living there until 
the year 1851, when they came to the 
farm upon which he at present resides, on 
Sec. 33 ; his wife was born in Washington 
Co., Md., near Harper's Ferry, Dec. 7, 
1823 ; they had nine children, two boys — 
Adam L. (born Dec. 4, 1849), and WUl- 
iam H. (^born Dec. 30, 1864), and seven 
girls, five living — Polly (born July 4, 
1842), Hannah C. (Nov. 3, 1844), Vir- 
ginia (Feb. 10, 1847), Margaret E. (June 
8, 1853 — now Mrs. C. Stone, of Ashmore 
Tp.), Alice M. (Feb. 12,1862— now Mrs. 
Richard Bidle), and two deceased — Zema 
E. (born Nov. 26, 1857 ; died Nov. 12, 
1873), and one died in infancy; Polly is 
also married to Mr. Andrew Gossett, of 
Hutton Tp.; Hannah C. to L. Cooper, of 
Ashmore Tp.; and Virginia to B. F. 
McMorris, of Hutton Tp. 

BENJAMIN McMORRIS, farmer ; P. 
0. Hutton ; was born in Loudoun Co., Va., 
March 25, 1813 ; his parents moved to 
Frederick Co., Va., when he was a year 
old; his father died in the year 1818, and 
Mr. McJIorris lived with his mother un- 
til he was 21 years of age, when they 
moved to Coshocton Co., Ohio; six years 
after, his mother returned to Virginia and 
died there in the year 1852. In the spring 
of 1836, Mr. McMorris married Rachel 
McLaughlin, and, three years afterward, 
moved to Coles Co., and settled in Sec. 9, 
Hutt(m Township, where he at present re- 
sides. His wife died Dec. 17, 1851, leav- 
ing six children, all living — Nancy (born 
Aus. 14, 1837), Margaret (July 7, 1839), 
Benjamin F. (May l6, 1842), Mary J. 
Nov. 11, 1847), William H. (Aug. 18, 
1849), and Rachel (Dec. 5, 1851). He 
married his second wife, Miss Sarah J. 
Johns, daughter of James and Jane Johns, 
in February, 1852; she was born in Vir- 
ginia, Pendleton Co., Aug. 11, 1825, and 
was the widow of Wm. Cartright ; they 
had eight children, six living — Elizabeth 
J. (born Nov. 26, 1854— now Mrs. David 
T. French, at present residing in Kansas ; 
married Nov. 14, 1870), John V. (hora 



618 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



Oct. 15, 1856), Martha A. (now Mrs. John 
Thornton ; born July 10, I860; married 
Oct. 16, 1878), Russell J. (born Sept. 29, 
1862), Jenette (Aug. 27, 1864), and Jos- 
eph L. (born March 9, 1867) ; two de- 
ceased — Thomas J. and David A. 

D. A. PARKER, farmer ; P. O. West- 
field, Clark Co. ; is one of the pioneers of 
this county, and was born in Butler Co., 
Ohio, April 27, 1815 ; in the year 1817, 
his parents moved to Crawford Co., 111., 
ten miles south of Palestine, and, after re- 
maining there eight years, moved to Hut^ 
ton Tp., Coles Co., and settled on what 
was afterward known as " Parker Prairie," 
in the year 1825, whore his parents died, 
his mother on the 11th day of December, 
1830, and his father on the 18th day of 
March, 1862; they were among the first 
settlers, and entered the first land in this 
county. Mr. Parker remained with his 
parents until he was 21 years of ago, when 
he went to farming for himself, and, on 
the 29th day of March, 1837, married 
Miss Mary J. Flint, daughter of Thomas 
Flint, of Kentucky ; she was born in Vir- 
ginia March 30, 1819. Mr. Parker set- 
tled on his present farm in the year 1840, 
having entered the land, and has resided 
there ever since, now containing sixty-four 
acres. His family consisted of nine chil- 
dren, five living — two boys, George W., 
born Feb. 8, 1839, and Allen D.. born 
May 17, 1852, and one deceased — Leroy, 
born April 19, 1850, died in 1854; six 
girls, three living — Sallie M. (now Mrs. 
J. B. Redmon, of Button Tp.),born Oct. 
15. 1844 ; Ellen, Sept. 5, 1854, and Em- 
ma, born March 20, 1860, and three de- 
ceased-Elizabeth, born July 8, 1841, 
died Aug. 11, 1852; Martha J., burn 
May 27, 1846, died in the fall of 1855, 
and Frances A., born Sept. 20, 1856, and 
died May 20, 1860. 

JEPHTHAH PARKER, farmer; P 0. 
Westfield, Clark Co.; was born in Craw- 
ford Co., 111., Feb. 13, 1823 ; he was 3 
years of age when he came with Iiis parents 
to Coles Co., and remained with them 
until his marriage with Miss Sarah J. 
Green, daughter of James (ireen, of Ohio, 
on the 11th day of May, 1842; she was 
born in Miami Co., Ohio, July 3, 1818. 
About nine months after their marriage, 
Mr. Parker moved to his farm on Sec. 6, 
the greater portion of which he improved, i 



putting upon it its present buildings, and 
where he has ever since resided, contain- 
ing 108 acres. They have eight children 
— John G., born May 17, 1843, and mar- 
ried Miss Irena Bennett in September, 
1864; Nathaniel L., born Oct. 8, 1845, 
and married Miss Emma Granger, of Wau- 
kesha, Wis., Oct. 26, 1873 ; William T., 
born Aug. 8, 1847, and married Miss 
Mary A. Thornton, March 10, 1869; 
Charles L., born Sept. 8, 1849 ; Nelson 
R., born Jan. 12, 1851, and married Miss 
Alta A. White Jan. 28, 1875 ; Annie E., 
born March 10, 1854 ; James A., born 
July 2, 1857, and married Miss Nevada 
Smith in February, 1877, and George C, 
born June 11, 1859. Of the sons, John 
G. and Nathaniel L were in our late civil 
war, having both enlisted in Co. F, 123d 
Regt. I. V. I. 

JAMES RENNELS, farmer; P. 0. 
Charleston ; one of the pioneers of this 
county ; was born in Madison Co.. Ky., 
Feb. 12, 1807 ; when he was 17 years of 
age, his parents moved to Lawrence Co., 
Ind., within ten miles of Little Orleans. 
While living there the subject of this 
sketch married Nov. 17, 1825, Miss Polly 
Connely (daughter of Joel Connely, of 
North Carolina) ; she was born Feb. 14, 
1807 ; her parents were early settlers of 
this county, having moved from Lawrence 
Co., Ind., to Coles Co. in the year 1832. 
In 1832, Mr. Rennels came to Coles Co. 
and settled on Sec. 32, where he has ever 
since resided, known as the "Rennels Set- 
tlement ;" his parents also moved from 
Lawrence Co., Ind., to near Rockville, 
about sixteen miles north of Terre Haute, 
Ind., and in the year 1837 came to Coles 
Co. and settled in Hutton Tp., about one 
mile from Salisbury, where his father died ; 
his mother made her home among her 
children, and died at the house of her son- 
in-law, John Connely, within two years 
after the death of his father. Mr. James 
Rennels had a family of nine children — 
five boys, all living, viz., Henry L., Ed- 
mund, John P., William R. and Joel J.; 
four girls, one living — Mahala ( now Mrs. 
Wm. P. Level, of Hutton, Tp.), and three 
deceased — Rebecca A., Martha J. and 
Sarah E. Mr. Rennels, as one of the 
earliest settlers of this county, has ex- 
perienced the many vici.ssitudes and hard- 
common to the pioneers of a new 



BUTTON TOWNSHIP. 



619 



country, and at a good old age, in connec- 
tion with his good wife, is resting from 
their labors, surrounded by their children 
and grandchildren, ministering to their 
wants and comforts in their declining years. 

EDMUND RENNELS, farmer; P.O. 
Charleston ; is the second son of James 
Rennels, and was born in Lawrence Co., 
Ind., Dec. 1?>, 1829. He came with his 
parents to Coles Co., when he was only 8 
years of ago, and remained with them up 
to his marriage with Miss Martha Waltrip, 
of Hutton Tp., Feb. 21, 1849, when he 
moved to his farm on Sec. 31, where he 
has resided ever since. His wife died in 
September, 1854. They had three chil- 
dren, one living Mary Ann (now Mrs. 
James Stephens, of Charleston Tp.), and 
two deceased — Sarah E. and Melvina J. He 
married his second wife. Miss Angcline 
Davis, of Hutton Tp., Sept. 9, 1858. They 
had ten children, nine living, three boys 
living — Henry L., Rama S., and Telia, and 
one deceased — Riley S. ; and six girls, all 
living — Viola, Lua J., Sarah E., Lilly 
B., Efa and Ida P. Mrs. Rennels and 
her eldest daughter, Viola, are members of 
the Baptist Church. 

JOHN SARGENT, farmer ; P. 0. Hut. 
ton ; was born in this township March 20, 
1846 ; his father, Stephen, was born in 
Candia, N. H., July, 1, 1797, and 
at the age of 13 went to New Jersey, 
remaining there three years, and from there 
traveled on foot to Ohio, working one year 
upon a farm in that State ; he then went to 
Kentucky, near the city of Louisville, 
working at the trade of stone-mason, and 
while there made a trip upon a flatboat 
from Louisville to New Orleans and back. 
In the year 1836 he came to New Rich- 
mond (now Westfield), Clark Co., and car- 
ried on a general merchandise store, and 
two years afterward purchased and moved 
upon a farm on See. 11, in this county, 
where he remained up to the time of his 
death, Nov. 30, 1878. His farm con- 
tained over 600 acres. He married Miss 
Nancy Chenoweth, widow of Jacob Har- 
lan, Oct. 18, 1842 ; she is still living on 
the homestead, and was born March 25, 
1805. They had two children — the sub- 
ject of this sketch and Maggie (now Mrs. 
Charles H. Rice, of Vermont), born June 
22, 1844, and now living in Denver, Colo. 
They have four children — Carrie E., 



Henry C, Benjamin P. and Genevieve. 
Mr. Sargent's mother was born in 
Kentucky, and journeyed on a pack- 
saddle to Vincennes, Ind., with her 
parents, who afterward came to Clark Co., 
where she resided after her first marriage 
and death of her husband, Jacob Harlan. 
The subject of this sketch was born on 
the homestead, where he has resided ever 
since the death of his father. At the age of 
15, he enlisted in Co. C, 68th Regt. III. 
Vol. for three months. He married Miss 
Maria A. Turner (daughter of Samuel 
Turner, of Kentucky), March 24, 1870. 
They have four children — Maggie P., 
born Jan. 28, 1871 ; Jesse R., April 23, 
1872 ; Ada 0., Sept. 15, 1875, and Carl, 
born Jan. 25, 1878. Mr. Sargent own» 
400 acres of land. 

G. W. SMITH, farmer ; P. 0. West- 
field ; was born in Pulaski Co., Ky., 
April 17, 1813 ; when he was ten years of 
age his parents moved to Lawrence Co., 
Ind., and remained there about six years 
engaged in farming ; from there they 
moved to Vigo Co., Ind., where his parents 
died. In 1839, Mr. Smith came to Coles 
Co., and first settled on Sec. 27, in this 
township, living there until 1863, when 
he moved to his present farm on Sec. 26, 
containing 87 acres. He held the oflice of 
School Director several terms. He mar- 
ried Miss EUza Boland (her parents being 
natives of Virginia), in Vigo Co., Ind., 
August, 1840 ; they had nine children, 
six girls and three boys, five girls living — 
Sarah Jane ( now Mrs. Preston Walker, of 
Texas), Leanner, Louisa, Polly (now Mrs. 
Samviel Merritt, of Charleston, Coles Co., 
111.), and Rosetta (now Mrs. Cornelius 
King, of Clark Co., III. ), and one deceased, 
Filinda, and two boys living, George W. 
and Benjamin T., one deceased, David. The 
brother of Mr. Smith, Anthony, was bora 
in the same county in the year 1815, and 
came with his parents also to Vigo Co., 
Ind.. and engaged in farming up to the 
time of his death, 1857. He was married 
to Miss Hannah Sparks, of Ind., who died 
in the year 1855 ; he left three .sons, two 
living, one of whom William R., Mr. G. 
W. Smith brought with him to Coles Co. 
when only 4 years old, who has made his 
home with him ever since. 

RICHARD O. WELLS, farmer; P. O. 
Westfield ; was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., 



620 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



Dec. 29, 1809 ; he remained there with 
his parents until lie was 25 years of age 
assisting on the farm ; his father died there 
in the year 1835 ; his mother surviving 
him until the year I860. Mr. Wells, 
while at home in Kentucky was married 
August, 1831, to Miss Jenette Boston 
(daughter of William Boston of Kentucky) ; 
she was born July 15, 1815 ; shortlyafter 
his marriage, he moved upon a farm near 
that of his father's, where he lived until 
his removal to Clark Co., in 1837; the 
next year he moved to Coles Co. and set- 
tled on See. ti, where he lived three years, 
and then returned to Clark Co. and from 
there, in 1843, moved back to Kentucky 
and after remaining ten years, in the year 
1853, came to Coles Co. and settled upon 
Sec. 7, where he has since resided. He 
owns 111 acres ; has been School Director 
one term. They had twelve children, 
seven boys, three living — Richard J., born 
May 29, 1849; Kobert L., August 11, 
1853, and Charles M., born Jan. 22, 1856, [ 
and four deceased — Preston, born Oct. 22, 
1832, died in 1842 ; James F. M., born ' 
April 1, 1836, died in 1865; William H., 
born July 17, 1840, died in 1850; and 
Leroy B., born April 6, 1851, died in Feb- 
ruary, 1852; five girls, two living — Leah, 
(now Mrs. lleily Leej, born Feb. 10, 1838 ; 
Leomia (now Mrs. M. Connely), born 
Sept. 15, 1842; and three deceased — Mary 



E., born Nov. 29, 1844, died in 1850; 
Louisa A., born March 6, 1846, died also 
in 1850; one died in infancy. His son, 
James F. M., enlisted in Co. "H," 21st 
Regt. 111. Vols., and was taken prisoner 
at the battle of Chiokamauga, and confined 
in Libby and Andersonville Prisons for 
nineteen months and died at Annapolis, 
Md., in 1865 on his way home, from* dis- 
ease contracted while a prisoner. Mr. and 
Mrs. Wells are members of the Baptist 
Church and have been connected with it 
for a number of years. 

MRS. JOSEPH WALTRIP; P.O. 
Westfield ; is a daughter of Daniel Goble 
of Hutton Tp. She was first married to 
Nathaniel Lee Aug. 14, 1853, who died 
in the year 1856 ; they had one child, 
Cynthia (now Mrs. Reason Wiley, of Hut- 
ton Tp.) ; she was again married July 18, 
1858, to Joseph Waltrip, who was born in 
Kentucky in 1819, and after remaining 
there until the age of 16, moved to Coles 

I Co., and settled in Charleston Tp. on Sec. 

' 25, engaged in farming ; he had been pre- 
viously married to Miss Eliza Jane Hall, 
daughter of Michael Hall ; she died in No- 
vember, 1857. Mrs. Waltrip had four 
children — two girls, Cynthia J. and Eliza, 
and two boys, one living, Wm. J., and one 
deceased — Daniel. She at present farms 70 
acres, part of her husband's estate of 250 
acras. Mr. Waltrip died Feb. 16, 1872. 



MORGAN TOWNSHIP. 



JAMES H. BUSBEY, farmer. Sec. 22 ; 
P. O. Oakland ; one of the pioneers of Coles 
Co ; born in Clark Co., Ohio, April 22, 
1823, where he attended school and en- 
gaged in farming, until 16 years of age, 
when he emigrated to Coles Co., 111., and 
located in what is now the south part of 
Douglas Co., in the fall of 1839. He is 
son of Hamilton Busbey, who was born 
July 5, 1792, in Virginia; he emigrated 
to Ohio about the year 1815, where he 
lived until he emigrated to Illinois, where 
he died Dec. 16, 1847; Mrs. Busbey, 
whose maiden name was Sophia Lewis, 
w:is born in Virginia, March 31, 1796 ; 
she died April 1, 1855, leaving eleven 
children now living — Thomas C, Susan 



M., Elmira M., William D., James H., 
Harriet E., Ann L., John H., Maria, 
George W., Henry C. The subject of 
this sketch remained with his parents 
until their decease, which occurred as stated 
above ; he remained upon the old farm 
until 1856, when he rented land, and en- 
gaged in farming until 1861, when he 
purchased his present place, where he has 
since continued to live ; he owns upward 
of eighty acres of prairie and timber lands. 
He married, Oct. 12, 1856, to Sarah J. 
Naphew ; she was born in Ohio Oct. 19, 
1831 ; they have six children now living 
by this union, viz. : Nancy E., born June 
29, 1858; Sophia R., born Jan. 21, 
1860; Orrin U., born Nov. 16, 1861; 



i 



MORGAN TOWNSHIP. 



621 



James M., born Aug. 13, 186-1; William ; 
H. H., born Dec. 25, 1866 ; Charles A., - 
Aug. 11, 1870. 

A. J. CLARK, farmer, Sec. 17 ; P. 0. 
Charleston; born in Coles Co., 111., April 
22, 1834, within one-half a mile of where he 
has since lived ; he is the youngest son of 
Benjamin and Sarah Clark, who emigrated 
from Kentucky and located in Coles Co., 
111., about the year 1829, where his father 
lived until his death, which occurred 
April 18, 1856, while on a visit to In- 
diana ; he was born in Kentucky in the year 
1798 ; his mother, who still lives within 
one-half mile of where she has lived for 
nearly one-half of a century, was born Jan. j 
1, 1800. Mr. Clark remained with his j 
father until 1856, when he commenced 
farming for himself upon the old home- 
stead, where he has since continued to ^ 
live, and where he owns 120 acres of land, i 
mostly under cultivation, and 90 acres 
mostly timber, in Sees. 16 and 21. His 
marriage with Christina V. Robinson was - 
celebrated June 1, 1865 ; she was born in 
Clark Co., Ind., Jan. 11, 1850; her 
parents located in Illinois when she was 
2 years of age ; five children were the fruit 
of this union, two of whom are deceased ; 
the names of the living are — Lillie May, 
born Jan. 24, 1867 ; Willis P., born Dec. 
9, 1868; Clarence V., born July 17, 
1875. Mr. Clark met with a severe loss 
by the failure of the proposed Charleston 
& Danville R. R., having contracted to 
furnish 5,000 ties, and the failure to com- 
plete the railroad left the ties upon his 
hands, by which he sufiered to the extent 
of $1,500. 

WATSON COLLINS, farmer deceased ; 
one of the early pioneers of Coles Co. ; 
born in North Carolina May 12, 1813, 
where he was raised to farming until 1831, 
when he emigrated with his father, Aaron 
Collins, and located upon Greasy Creek, 
Morgan Tp.; like most pioneers, the family 
were poor, and the subject of this sketch 
turned his attention to do what was 
in his power to the support of his father's ' 
family ; one occupation was getting out 
fence-rails at 25 cents per hundred ; one 
season he worked at Vincennes, Ind., at $6 
per month, the earnings being used for the 
support of the family and to procure stock; i 
breaking prairie with five or six yoke of 
oxen was another occupation : his milling . 



was done atTerre Haute, Freeport, Eugene 
and Palestine, this trip consuming from 
four to eight days, made with three or four 
yoke of oxen ; his furniture was home- 
made ; for chairs he made stools, and bed- 
steads were made by boring a hole in the 
side and end logs of his house, in which 
poles were inserted, entering a post where 
the ends met ; this was known as the rac- 
coon bedstead ; there is now in the family 
a cupboard made by Mr. Collins, which is 
put together by wooden pins, not a nail be- 
ing in use — a relic valued highly ; he com- 
menced the stock business by first buying a 
single calf, which business he increased un- 
til he became a large stock-dealer, feeding 
from 150 to 200 head of cattle for several 
years previous to his death, at which time 
he owned upward of 500 acres of land, and 
had 500 rented for his stock, etc. His 
marriage with Minerva McAlister was 
celebrated in 1836 ; she was born in Ala- 
bama April 13, 1815 ; she died March 21, 
1857, leaving four children now living, 
viz., Mary Jane (born March 24, 1841), 
Margaret E. (born March 6, 1845 — now 
Mrs. William Reynolds), Martha V. (born 
Oct. 26, 1850— now Mrs. W. E. Worsh- 
am), and Eliza A. (born June 29, 1856 — 
now Mrs. Andrew Walton.) Mr. Collins 
died March 25, 1877, mourned and re- 
spected by all who knew him. 

SOLOMON COLLINS, farmer, 
deceased ; the subject of this sketch was one 
of the early pioneers of Morgan Tp. ; he 
was a native of North Carolina, and emi- 
grated to Illinois with his father, Aaron 
Collins, and located upon Greasy Creek, 
Morgan Tp., about the year 1831 ; he suf- 
fered all the hardships and privations of 
frontier life, but wa,*! known as a hard-work- 
ing, industrious and successful farmer, and 
at the time of his death was held in high 
esteem in the township in which he lived. 
He married Theney Carter ; she was born 
in Kentucky, and, at the time of her death 
was the mother of three children, viz., 
John J., William A. and Elizabeth B. 
His second wife was Mary Taylor, by 
whom he had two children — Hiram and 
Thomas. John J. Collins, the oldest son, 
was born in Jlorgan Tp., Feb. 7, 1850, 
where he attended the common schools 
and assi.sted his father in farming until 1 2 
years of age, since which time he has made 
his home with Joseph Carter, whom he 



622 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



assisted in farming in summer and attended 
the common scliool in the winter, until 
1871, when he entered the Westfield Col- 
lege, where he attended two years, since 
which time he has been engaged in school- 
teaching during the fell and winter and 
farming in summer. 

LAFAYETTE CRAIG, farmer, Sec. 18; 
P.O.Charleston ; born in Clark Co., 111., Mar. 
27, 1832 ; he emigrated with his parents 
when 3 years of age, and located in what 
is now known as Morgan Tp., in December, 
1835, in which township he has since con- 
tinued to live for a period of upward of 
forty-three years ; he is a son of Isaac N. 
Craig, and with his father is one of the 
earliest pioneers of Morgan Tp. ; the sub- 
ject of this sketch was employed iq his 
early days in watching sheep during the 
day to protect them from the wolves, and at 
night would drive the sheep in close pens 
near the house, for safety during the night ; 
there were no roads in those days, and to 
go to Charleston and other points, they 
would follow by-paths, taking a direct line 
to whatever point they wi.shed to go ; he 
remained with his father and assisted him 
in farming until 21 years of age, when he 
was employed by his father for two years, 
at $100 per year, when he, with his 
brother farmed upon the old farm for six 
years, receiving half of the crops for their 
labor ; he then continued farming alone on 
the same conditions, for a period of three 
years k)nger ; he removed upon his pres- 
ent place in the spring of 1864, where he has 
since continued to live; he owns 161 acres 
of land in his home farm, and 110 in other 
parts of the county. He married Jan. 3, 
1856, to Jemima Fowler ; she was born in 
Coles Co , Oct. 14, 1836 ; she died March 
26, 1862, leaving no children ; his mar- 
riage with Margaret J. Woodfull was cel- 
ebrated Feb. 12, 1863; they have six 
children now living by this union — Willis 
N. Ida May, Alma L.. Robert II., Oscar 
A., and Thomas D. Mr. Craig was the 
first Collector of Morgan Tp., which office 
he held for two years, when he was elected 
Supervisor for ten years in succ(!Ssion ; 
took the census in 1865, and served for 
two years as School Director. 

THOMAS H. CRISPIN, farmer; P. 
0. Rardin ; born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, 
May 5, 1833, where he attended school 
and assisted his father in the mason trade 



until 14 years of age, when he went to 
Bellefontaine, Logan Co., Ohio, where he 
learned and worked at the trade of mason 
and plasterer until 1852, when he emi- 
grated to Carliuville, 111., and followed his 
trade for six years ; he located in Coles 
Co. in the spring of 1859, on Sec. 30, 
Morgan Tp., where he engaged in farming 
one year, then six years upon Sec 9 ; he 
located upon his present place in 1864, 
where he has since continued to live, and 
where he owns 110 acres of prairie and 
timber land. His marriage with Susannah 
J. Painter was celebrated in 1852 ; she 
was born in Macoupin Co., 111., Nov. 15, 
1833 ; they have seven children now liv- 
ing, having lost one by death ; the names 
of the living are Nancy C.,born Jan. 19, 
1853: Isabel J., boru July 27, 1854; 
Jacob J., May 2, 1856 ; Thomas J., Feb. 
16,1858; William H., Dec. 15, 1860; 
Geo. B. McClellan, Oct. 1, 1863; Mary 
H., Dec. 16, 1868 ; Jesse, March 21, 1875 ; 
the deceased is Alonzo G., born Sept. 10, 
1866, died April 19, 1868; Mrs. Crispin 
died Aug. 18, 1871. He married for his 
second wife Agnes McKiney Aug. 24, 
1873 ; she was born June 7. 1855. 

WESLEY DAUGHERTY, farmer, Sec. 
8 ; P. 0. Charleston ; born in Coles Co., 111., 
Jan. 18, 1834; he is the youngest son of 
John B. Daugherty, who emigrated with 
his family from Indiana and located in 
('oles Co., 111., about the year 1833, where 
he lived until his decease, which occurred 
July 10, 1857, being then 60 years of 
age. The subject of this sketch remained 
with his father and assisted in farming until 
19 years of age, when he was employed as 
farm laborer for about four years, when he 
engaged in farming upon rented land, 
which he followed two years ; he located 
upon his present place in the spring of 
1857, where he has since continued to live 
during a period of upward of 22 years ; 
he owns 120 acres in his home farm, upon 
which he has good buildings and about 20 
acres of timber upon the Embarrass River. 
His marriage with Phocbi? Clark was cele- 
brated Feb. 18, 1856; she was born in 
Coles Co. May 25, 1836. They have five 
children now living, viz. ; Paulina, Albert, 
Joseph, Charles W. and Hetta J. Mrs. 
Daugherty was the daughter of Benjamin 
and Sarah Clark, who emigrated from 
Kentucky, and located in Coles Co., HI., 



MORGAN TOWNSHIP. 



623 



about the year 1828 or 1829; Mr. Clark 
lived here until the spring of 1856, when 
he went to Indiana upon a visit, whore he 
died April 18, 1856 ; his birth occurred in 
Kentucky, in the year 1798. Mrs. Clark 
now makes her home with her daughter, 
Mrs. Daugherty, within one-half mile of 
where she first located, and where she has 
continued to reside for nearly half a cent- 
ury ; she was born Jan. 1, 1800, and al- 
though now in her 80th year, is in possas- 
sion of all her faculties, and voluntarily 
devotes a large part of her time to sewing 
and knitting. Mr. Daugherty has filled 
the office of School Director several years 
during his residence here, and which office 
he now holds. 

SHEP FLORER, f-irmcr; P.O. Oak- 
land ; born in Newport, Vermilion Co., 
Ind., March 29, 1839 ; he was the son of 
Alexander B. Florer, of the early pioneers 
of that county, and who was elected Second 
County Clerk, which office he held fourteen 
years ; w;us elected Recorder of the county 
several times, which office he held for many 
years ; he was also an eminent lawyer of 
that part of the State of Indiana until his 
death, which occurred Aug. 9, 1863; 
Shep Florer was raised in the above county, 
at the age of 14, he commenced clerking 
for Jones, Culbertson & Co., and at 17 he 
was appointed Deputy Auditor of the 
county under Henry D. Washburn, and 
afterward as Deputy Clerk and Recorder 
at 20 years of age ; he did a heavy 
grocery trade in that town ; at the begin- 
ning of the war, he enlisted in Co. C. 18th 
Ind. Vols., and served his country three years 
as private messenger for Col. Tom Patter- 
son and Gen. H. D. Washburn. On Sept. 
23, 186-1, he located with his mother, A. 
A. Florer, at Milton Station, Coles Co., 
111., where he sold general merchandise for 
five years, and on the 11th day of October, 
1870, he moved to his mother's farm of 
529 acres, situated in Morgan Tp., Coles 
Co., where he now resides. He married 
June 24, 1866, to Louisa A. Hawkins ; 
she was born in Rush Co., Ind., March 7, 
1846 ; she removed with her parents to 
Coles Co., 111., in 1850, where her father and 
stepmother now reside ; five children were 
the fruit of this union, two of whom are 
deceased, the names of the living are Mary 
Elizabeth, born May 13, 1876, and Katie 
and Clara, twins, born June 11, 1878. 



ARIS GALBREATH, farmer; P. 0. 
Rardin ; was born in Nicholas Co., Ky., 
Jan. 20, 1812. His parents removed to 
Scott Co., Ind., when he was 2 years of 
age, where he lived until 18 years of age, 
when he emigrated with his mother to 
Illinois and located in Edgar Co., in the 
Fall of 1830, where he engaged as farm 
laborer for tvro years at $8 per month ; in 
1832, he located in Ashmore Tp., Coles 
Co., 111., working one year for $100, out 
of which he saved money to enter 40 acres 
of land, which he improved one year, when 
he sold out and purchased 240 acres, which 
he improved for ten years, which he then 
sold and entered 160 acres of prairie and 
purchased 40 acres of timber in Morgan 
Tp., upon which he lived until 1875, when 
he removed upon bis present place, after 
renting his old homestead ; he now owns 
300 acres of land with three sets of build- 
ings. When Mr. G. located here, wolves 
and Indians were plenty, and to obtain 
quail, prairie chickens or other game, was 
only necessary to shoot from your door or 
window. He married Dec. 8, 1835, to 
Jane Reed ; she was born in Spencer Co., 
Ky., Oct. 9, 1817 ; they have three chil- 
dren, now living by this union — -James 
T., born Oct. 9, 1836; William R., Nov. 
4, 1838 ; Ann Eliza, born Jan. 5, 1841, 
Mrs. G. was a daughter of Thos. Reed, 
who emigrated from Kentucky and located 
in Illinois in 1829; he died in Ashmore 
Tp., in the winter of 1845. Mr. Gal- 
breath has taken a deep interest in the 
cause of religion and education, having 
been a member of the C. P. Church for 
fifteen years ; his wife having been a mem- 
ber for twenty-five years. He has held 
the offices of Assessor, Town Clerk and 
School Director ; the latter office he now 
holds. 

JACKSON GERARD, farmer; P. 0. 
Hinesborough ; was born in Hamilton Co., 
Ohio, June 28, 1828; his grandfather 
was one of the early settlers of Ohio, loca- 
ting in the above county about the year 
1784, where he lived until his decease, 
which occurred about the year 1S3S. The 
father of the subject of this sketch, Will- 
iam Gerard, was born in Hamilton Co., 
Ohio, in the year 1785, and lived there 
until his death, which occurred in the year 
1836 ; he served through the war of 1812, 
with the Frontier Rangers, being stationed 



624 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



during the winter of 1813 near Vincennes, i 
Ind., guarding the frontier from the at- 
tacks of the Indians. His mother was 
born in New Jersey, July, 1792, and emi- 
grated witli her parents to Ohio, in the 
year 1794; they did their trading in 
Cincinnati, when the building occupied as 
the P. O. was the only frame building 
there; Mrs Gerard died July 7, 1874, in 
Butler Co.. Ohio. The subject of this 
sketch lived with his parents until 7 years 
of age. when he made his home with an 
older brother until 21 years of age, when 
he located upon a farm in Butler Co., Ohio, 
where he lived twenty-four years ; he emi- 
grated to Illinois in 1874, and located up- 
on Sec. 30, Morgan Tp., where he now 
resides ; he owns 102 acres in his home 
farm, upon which he has erected good 
buildings ; he also owns 140 acres in other 
parts of the county. He married Nov. 3, 
1850, to Emily Stites; she was born in 
Hamilton Co., Ohio, Jan. 20, 1834; they 
have four children now living, having lost 
two by death. The names of the hving 
are: Eli, born July 4, 1854; Mary A., 
now wife of Dr. J. T. Montgomery, Feb. 
18, 1856; Chai-les W., born April 11, 
1859; Anna M., born Oct. 15, 1861. 

ELI GERRARD, farmer; P.O.Charles- 
ton ; born in Butler Co., Ohio, July 4, 
1854, where he attended school and en- 
gaged in farming until he emigrated West 
and located in Coles Co., in the fall of 
1874; here he engaged in farming with 
his father until the spring of 1876, when 
he removed upon his present place, where 
he has since lived. He is the oldest son 
of Jackson (Jerard, whose biography ap- 
pears in this work. His marriage with 
Laura B. Smith was celebrated Aug. 31, 
1875; she was born in Ohio Oct. 10, 
1856 ; they have two children now living 
by this union, viz., Clara L., born June 8, 
1876, and Elizabeth A., born Dec. 29, 
1877. 

JESSE HUDSON, farmer and Justice 
of the Peace ; P. 0. Charleston ; born in 
Jessamine Co., Ky., June 27, 1840, where 
he attended school until 11 year.s of age, 
when he emigrated to Illinois and located 
in East Oakland Tp. in October, 1851 ; 
here he remained and assisted his father 
in farming until upward of 20 years of 
age, when he raised one crop upon his j 
father's farm, of which he gave one-third i 



for the use of the land ; the following 
year he farmed upon rented land, and in 
1864, he removed to Morgan Tp., where 
he rented land four years, and, in 1868, 
purchased his present place, where he has 
since continued to live; he first purchased 
eighty acres of land, mostly upon time, 
giving his notes for S2,180, which he met 
promptly, and has since added, by pur- 
chase, forty acres more, for which he paid 
$1,200 cash ; he built a brick addition to 
his house in 1872, and, in 1877, erected 
the finest barn in Morgan Tp. The above 
property he has accumulated by his own 
hard labor, energy and good business man- 
agement, in which he has been nobly as- 
sisted by his wife, to whom he was married 
Oct. 10, 1861 ; her maiden name was 
Harriet Stark ; she was born in Indiana 
Nov. 15, 1842; they have two children 
now living, viz., Laura B., born Dec. 12, 
1869, and Emma May, born Nov. 8, 1871. 
Mr. Hudson has held different township 
offices, and has been elected to the office 
of Justice of the Peace for the second 
term, which office he now holds. 

JOHN H. JOHNSON (deceased), 
farmer and minister : born in Washington 
Co., Penn., Dec. 12, 1812, where he at- 
tended school in his youth — the la.st few 
years at the college at Wayncsburg, Penn.; 
after which he was licensed as a minister 
of the C. P. Church, officiating as circuit 
preacher until his removal to Ohio, where 
he was settled as local preacher for three 
years, until his removal to Coles Co., 111., 
about the year 1854. where he first settled 
as Pastor of the C. P. Church in Ashmore 
Tp. for several years ; then in Morgan Tp. 
until 1868; at the above date, he emigrated 
to Jasper Co., Mo., where he purchased 
ninety acres of land, upon which he labored 
while not engaged in his ministerial labors, 
until the fall of 1877, when he removed to 
Carthage, Mo., after renting his farm, that 
he might have better facilities for the edu- 
cation of his daughter ; here he lived until 
his decea.sc, which occurred Jan. 31, 1878, 
after an illness of ten days ; his remains 
wcri! brought back to Coles Co., 111., and 
buried in the beautiful cemetery near St. 
Omer, Ashmore Tp., by the side of his 
first wife, to whom he was married in Penn- 
sylvania ; her maiden name was Lucinda 
Hamson ; she emigrated to Illinois with 
him, and died during his ministerial labors 



MORGAN TOWNSHIP. 



625 



in Ashmore Tp; his marriage with Nancy 
(Rardin") Gollady was celebrated Feb. 13, 
1856 ; she was asisterof John and Jacob L. 
Rardin ; born in Campbell Co., Ky., April 
22, 1824, and emigrated with her parents, 
Samuel and Catharine Rardin, to Morgan 
Tp.in the fall of 1842 ; her first marriage 
with George Gollady was celebrated April 
22, 1852; he was born April 23, 1819, 
and emigrated from Virginia about the year 
1836, and located in Morgan Tp., where 
he lived until his decease, which occurred 
Feb. 3, 1854; Mrs. Johnson has one 
daughter by her last marriage, viz., Teresa 
C, born in Coles Co., 111., March 13, 1859 ; 
Mrs. Johnson, with her daughter, returned 
in the fall of 1878, and again located upon 
her farm in Morgan Tp., where she resided 
previous to her removal to Missouri. 

JOHN B. JONES, farmer. See. 3 ; P. 
0. Rardin ; born in Franklin Co., N. Y., 
Sept. 1, 1829; he removed with his par- 
ents when quite young to Whitehall, Wash- 
ington Co., where he attended school and 
engaged in farming until 15 years of age, 
when he learned and worked at the ship- 
carpenter's trade for three years ; then for 
two years followed sailing on the lakes, and 
his trade ; after which time he located at 
Astoria, L. I., where he engaged at his 
trade until 1857, when he emigrated to 
Illinois, and located in' Ashmore Tp., Coles 
Co., March 1, of the same year; here he 
purchased land and engaged in farming 
until 1 870, when he located upon his pres- 
ent place, where he has since continued to 
live, and where he has eighty-nine acres, 
upon which he erected his residence in 
1871 ; here he located in the timber and 
has, during the last eight years, cleared and 
placed under cultivation upward of fifty 
acres of land by his own hard labor. His 
marriage with Sarah Smith was celebrated 
Dec. 24, 1 856 : she was born in Queens 
Co., N. Y., May 13, 1839; they have three 
children now living by this union, viz., 
John Paul, born Nov. 8, 1857; Stephen 
B.. born Feb. 8, 1865, and Isaac P., born 
May 11, 1868 ; the names of the deceased 
are Georce W. and William H. 

W. C. McLAIN, farmer ; P. 0. Charles- 
ton ; one of the very oldest settlers x)f 
Coles Co., III., being born in Ashmore Tp., 
Coles Co., Jan. 12, 1829 ; his father, 
Matthew McLain, emigrated from Indiana 
in the year 1828, and located in the above 



township, at the above date, where he 
lived until 1846, when he removed to 
Wisconsin, and the year following both he 
and his wife died. The subject of this 
sketch emigrated to Wisconsin with his 
parents, and after their decease returned 
to Coles Co. and was employed as farm 
laborer until 1851, when he rented land 
and farmed one year, and on March 28, 
1852, started with three other ox-teams 
overland to California, going via St. Joe, 
Mo., Fort Kearney and Fort Laramie, 
crossing the Rocky Mountains via the 
Sweetwater Gap, arriving at Placerville, 
jCal., Aug. 16, of the same year, being 
nearly five months upon the road ; here 
he engaged in freighting for several months 
from Sacramento City to Placerville, a 
distance of forty-five miles, and late in the 
fall engaged in mining upon Weber Creek 
until the spring of 1853, when he went to 
the North Yuba River, and engaged in 
mining during the summer of 1853, when 
he and his company, among which were 
two of his brothers, opened a mine, sink- 
ing a shaft 140 feet, which they named 
Galena Hill, and which has since proved 
to be one of the best deep diggings in 
California ; working this mine until the dry 
season set in, when they worked seven 
months and flumed the North Yuba River, 
after taking the water out of the river and 
working one-half day in the bed of the river, 
in which they obtained $2,800, the flume 
burst in, and their seven months' labor 
was lost ; he then returned to Galena Hill 
where he engaged in mining until March 
15, 1855, when he sailed from San Fran- 
cisco, via Panama and New York, arriving 
in Ashmore Tp. April 11 following; he 
then rented and engaged in farming one 
j-ear, when he removed to Morgan Tp., 
where he has since engaged in farming ; 
ho located upon his present pla?e in Feb- 
ruary 186C, where he has since continued to 
live ; he owns sixty acres in his home farm, 
upon which he has good improvements, 
mostly made by his own labor. He mar- 
ried Aug. 8, 1850, to Mary A. Galbreath; 
she was born in Coles Co., 111., Oct. 18, 
1834; she died April 11, 1866, leaving 
two children — Philena and Mary A. His 
marriage with Mahala Mitchell, daughter 
of John Galbreath, was celebrated April 
14, 1867 ; she was born in Coles Co., III., 
Feb. 18, 1840; her parents were among 



626 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



the early pioneers of Coles Co., who located 
about 1830. Mrs. MoLain has two 
children by her previous husband, W. R. 
Mitchell, viz., John F. and P. A. Mitchell, 
now Mrs. Hus^h Daugherty. 

ALEXANDER McGREGOR, farmer ; 
P. 0. Charleston ; the subject ot this 
sketch was born in Perthshire, Scotland, 
July 1 , 1807, where he attended the common 
schools in his youth and assisted his lather 
in farming until upward of 21 years of 
age, when he located in Glasgow as clerk 
and salesman in the wholesale store of 
Robert & John Henderson, with whom 
he remained until 1842, when he emi- 
grated to America, landing in New York 
in April, of the same year, coming directly 
West ; he lived in East O-tkland Tp. until 
the spring of 1843, when he located forty 
acres of land in Morgan Tp., upon 
which he settled and, about 1845, en- 
tered forty more and afterward added by 
purchase until he had 535 acres, which he 
made by his own hard labor ; he has al- 
ways been one of the most industrious and 
hard-working men of Morgan Tp., and is 
held in high esteem as a citizen ; he has 
always taken a deep interest in the cause , 
of religion and education, having been an 
active member of the Presbyterian Church 
for upward of half a century ; on Jan. 9, 
1872, he was stricken with palsy, and upon 
the 13th of the same month received his 
second shock, since which time he has been 
confined to the house, and is nearly in a 
helpless condition, which affliction he has 
borne with Christian fortitude. His mar- 
riage with Margaret Dollar was celebrated 
June 11, 1833; .she was born in Perth- 
shire, Scotland, Nov. 18, 1811 ; five chil- 
dren were the fruit of this union, three of 
which are deceased ; the names of the liv- '• 
ing are William and John. Mr. Mc- 
Gregor was a strong Union man during the 
war of the rebellion, two of his sons serv- 
ing in the Union Army, Alexander being 
killed at the battle of Perryville ; Mrs. i 
McGregor died April 27, 1876; Mr. 
McGregor continues to live upon the old , 
homestead with his younger son, John, by 
whom he is kindly eared for ; John was | 
born in the old homestead Feb. 1, 1848, 
where he has always lived ; he married 
April 12, 1877, to Rosanie C. Craig; she 
was the daughter of James W. Craig, one 
of the early settlers of Coles Co. ; they | 



have one child by this union — Margaret J., 
born Dec. 15, 1878. 

DANIEL R. McALISTER, farmer, 
deceased ; one of the early pioneers of Coles 
Co. The subject of this sketch was born 
in Alabama May 20, 1821 ; he emigrated 
to Illinois at 10 years of age, and located 
in what is now known as Morgan Tp., in 
the year 1831, where he lived until his 
death, which occurred Nov. 9, 1867; he 
was one of the most industrious and hard- 
working men of Morgan Tp., and by his 
industry and good management had accu- 
mulated a good property at the time of his 
death. His marriage was celebrated Feb. 
11, 1844 ; six children were the fruit of this 
union, three of whom are deceased ; the 
living are Martha J. (now Mrs. J. B. Will- 
iams), Clara B. (now Mrs. Dunlap) Mc- 
Ghey and Margaret R. (now Mrs. G. E. 
Johnson). Mrs. McAlister makes her 
home with her oldest daughter, Mrs. J. B. 
Williams, and although in her 63d year, is 
in possession of all her facultie.--, and daily 
assists in the various household duties. 

J. T. MONTGOMERY, physician, P. 0. 
Charleston ; born in Cedar Co., Mo., Oct. 
18, 1852. He emigrated with his parents 
and located in Alton, 111., in 1861, for 
about six months, then Windsor for three 
years, where his father was located as minis- 
ter of the C. P. Church. He located in Oak- 
and. Coles Co., in March, 1867, when he 
attended school until 1871, where he 
worked as farm laborer during the summer 
and fall, in which way he obtained the 
means to attend the Mt. Zion Academy 
until he had exhausted the proceeds of his 
summer's labor, when he engaged as clerk 
in the dry goods store of Wilcox & Bur- 
roughs, at Fairmount, 111., where he re- 
mained until winter, when he taught school 
for six months, and having laid up sufii- 
cient means to delray his expenses in fur- 
ther educating himself, he went to the 
Normal School, at Normal 111., for six 
months; he continued in this manner, 
teaching, then expending his savings in 
schooling himself until he received his edu- 
cation, graduating from the Chicago Med- 
ical College in the Centennial Class of 
1876, having devoted four years to the 
study of medicine ; he then engaged in 
partnership with Dr. W. J. Peak, at Oak- 
land, under the firm name of Peak & 
Montgomery. He located upon his present 



I 



MORGAN TOWNSHIP. 



627 



place in August, 1876, since which time 
he has successfully followed the practice of 
medicine, having a large and extensive 
practice, which is yearly increasing. He 
married Oct. 12, 1876, to Mary A. Gerard, 
daughter of Jackson Gerard, whose biog- 
raphy appears in this work ; she was born 
in Butler Co., Ohio, Feb. 18, 1856. They 
have one child by this union — Sarah Em- 
ily, born July 8, 1877. 

WM. MORGAN, farmer; P. 0. Rar- 
din ; born in Sullivan Co., Ind., Dec. 13, 
1827; he emigrated with his parents when 
8 years old and located in what is now 
known as Morgan Tp. in 1834, and before 
the organization of the township, which is 
named in honor of his father, David Mor- 
gan, who resided here from 1835 until his 
death, which occurred in October, 1860. 
The subjectof this sketch lived with his par- 
ents and assisted in farming until 1850, 
when he engaged in farming for himself 
upon the place where he has since lived ; he 
owns 320 acres in his home farm and 320 
acres in other parts of the township ; when 
Mr. Morgan first located in this township, 
it was inhabited by Indians, whose camps 
were along the river, their chief camps 
being along Brush Creek, where the mounds 
may be seen to this day ; wolves were 
plenty, and to obtain quail, prairie chick- 
ens, turkeys or deer, it was hardly neces- 
sary to step outside of the door-yard ; his 
trips to mill consumed four days, and the 
distance was fifty miles, either to Eugene 
on the Wabash, or to Terre Haute ; at 
that early date, he had only two neighbors, 
and from his locati(m at the north part of 
what is now Morgan Tp. to within a half 
mile from Charleston, a distance of twelve 
miles, there was not a single habitation ; 
for roads, to avoid getting lost, a single 
furrow would be plowed from point to 
point ; this was the way the road was laid 
out to Charleston and other parts. His 
schooling was obtained under disadvan- 
tages, in an old log school house, whose 
fire-place was the whole of one end of the 
building ; the scholars were obliged to 
gather their wood from the stump, take it 
to the schoolhouse, chop it and take it in. 
His marriage with Margaret Shirre was 
celebrated Sept. 6, 1850 ; she was born in 
Glasgow, Scotland, May 28, 1835 ; they 
have four children, now living, by this 
union — William David, now attending the 



Chicago Medical College his third term ; 
Ralph D., Alexander J. and Josie Clay. 

JAMES MORGAN, farmer, Sec. 20; 
P. 0. Oakland ; one of the early pioneers 
of Coles Co. ; born in Vermilion Co., Ind., 
April 20, 1830 ; he was the youngest son of 
David Morgan, who was born in Wa-shing- 
ton Co., Ky., Nov. 18, 1797 ; he emigrated 
from Kentucky to Indiana with his fam- 
ily, where he lived until he emigrated to 
Coles Co., 111., where he located April 20, 
1834, in what is now Morgan Tp., the 
township being named in honor of David 
Morgan. He married Oct. 7, 1818, to 
Jane Rodman ; she was born in Kentucky, 
June 9, 1799 ; six children were the fruit 
of this union, five of whom emigrated to 
Illinois with the family at the above date, 
one having died in infancy ; the names of 
the living were Sarah, Catharine J., Mary 
E., William and James ; Mr. Morgan 
died Sept. 10, 1860 ; Mrs. Morgan died 
Jan. 31,1832. The subjectof this sketch 
was 4 years of age when he emigrated to 
Coles Co,, 111., in 1834 ; he lived with his 
parents until 19 years of age, when he 
managed the farm until the decease of 
his father, since which time he has con- 
tinued to live upon the old homestead, 
where he has lived for a period of forty- 
five years ; he owns upon his home farm 
112 acres, and 8 acres of timber in Oak- 
land Tp.; when Mr. Morgan came here, 
Indian camps were along the river, wolves 
and game were plenty, and Mr. Morgan 
remembers his first labor in his boyhood as 
watching and protecting the sheep from 
destruction by the wolves during the day, 
the sheep being driven in close pens for 
protection during the night ; his trips to 
mill consumed from four to six days, either 
to Perryville, Eugene, or Terre Haute, the 
distance being sixty miles. His marriage 
with Clarissa J. West was celebrated Oct. 
12, 1849 ; she was born in Vermilion Co., 
Ind., Oct. 6, 1831 ; they have five chil- 
dren by this union, viz.; Robert, born Oct. 
9, 1850; Leonard C, June 22, 1853; 
William J., Feb. 21, 1855 ; Melvin, June 
8, 1858, and David, Ausj. 23, 1869. 

JOHN NOCK, farmer ; P. 0. Charles- 
ton ; born in Germany Feb. 20, 1835 ; he 
emigrated with his parents to America 
when 2 years of age ; coming directly 
West, they located first in Ross, then 
Waverly Co., Ohio, until 1849, when 

8 



628 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



they located in Charleston, Coles Co., 111., 
where he learned and worked at the car- 
penter trade until 1863, at which date he 
located upon his present place, where he 
has since continued to live ; he owns upon 
his present place 165 acres, upon which 
he has good buildings, and which is 
mostly under cultivation. He married 
Aug. 5, 1863, to Mary GoUaday ; she was 
born upon the place where she now lives, 
and where she has lived since her birth, 
which occurred Dec. 18, 1841 ; they 
have seven children now living, by this 
union, viz. : Katie and Annie (twins), 
born Aug. 24, 1864 ; Minnie, Jan. 4, 
1869; John, Oct. 8, 1872; James, Nov. 
13, 1874; Jackson, Nov. 28, 1876; 
Emma, April 17, 1878. The father of 
Mr. Nock, John Nock, died in Septem- 
ber, 1851 ; his mother died Aug. 27, 
1875; the parents of Mrs. Nock, Moses 
and Catharine Golladay, were among the ; 
early pioneers of Coles Co., locating here in 
1836 ; Mr. Golladay was born in Virginia, 
Oct. 15, 1809; he died in Morgan Tp., 
March 12, 1862; Mrs. Golladay was born ; 
in A'irginia March 25, 1819 ; she now lives 
with her daughter, Mrs. Nock, upon the 
same place where she has resided for up- 
ward of forty-three years, and is one of 
the oldest living settlers now in Morgan Tp. 
F. M. PARKER, farmer; P. 0. Rar- 
din ; born in Edgar Co., 111., March 18, 
1849; he is the" eldest son of Wm. M. 
Parker, who emigrated from Kentucky, 
and located in Edgar Co., 111., in the year 
1829; he died in Coles Co., Feb. 14, 
1873 ; his mother was born in Kentucky, 
and emigrated with her parents, and loca- 
ted in Coles Co. in 1828 ; the subject of 
this sketch remained with his parents, and 
assisted in farming, until 20 years of age, 
when he was employed as farm-laborer for 
about four years : he first commenced 
farming for himsell' in 1871, in Edgar Co., 
and the year following in East Oakland 
Tp., Coles Co. ; he removed upon Sec. 5, 
Morgan Tp., in December, 1873, where he 
has since successfully followed farming. : 
He married Sept. -14, 1871 to Sarah J. 
Roberts ; she was born in Muskingum 
Co., Ohio, March 11, 1848 ; she is daugh- 
ter of Thomas Roberts, whose biography 
appears in this work ; they have four chil- ; 
dren by this union — Rhoda A., born June 
30, 1872; James W., born May 1, 1874; | 



Cara A., born May 21, 1876 ; Dora R., 
born April 29, 1878. Mr. Parker has 
held the office of Road Overseer for two 
years, and Collector of Morgan Tp. for 
1878. 

SAMUEL RARDIN, merchant and 
Postmaster, Rardin ; born in Morgan Tp., 
Coles Co., 111., Jan. 2, 1850, where he 
attended the common schools until 1872, 
when he entered the Westfield College at 
Westfield, Clark Co., III., which he at- 
tended during the years 1872 and 1873, 
when he returned home and assisted his 
father in farming until the year 1875, 
when he was appointed, under the admiu- 
tration of President Grant, as Postmaster 
at Rardin, which office he now holds, and 
which is the only post office in Morgan 
Tp. ; upon receiving the above appoint- 
ment, he erected a store, and purchased a 
stock of goods ; he engaged in the mer- 
chandise trade, which business he has since 
successfully followed. He is the oldest 
son now living of John H. Rardin, who 
emigrated from Kentucky and located in 
Morgan Tp. in 1842, and whose biography 
appears in this work. He also owns forty 
acres of prairie land, upon which he has a 
residence, and which is rented. 

J. L. RARDIN, farmer and Justice of 
the Peace ; P. 0. Rardin ; one of the early 
settlers of Morgan Tp. ; born in the State 
of Indiana Dec. 12, 1814; his parents re- 
moved to Campbell County, Ky., when he 
was 4 years of age, where he was en- 
gaged in clearing land and farming, with 
the exception of five years in Ohio, until 
28 years of age, when he emigrated with 
his parents to Illinois, and located in what 
is now known as Morgan Tp., in the fall of 
1842, upon the place where he has since 
continued to live during a p'erind of nearly 
thirty-seven years; he first entered eighty 
acres of prairie land, which is now a part 
of his home farm, and eighty acres of tim- 
ber upon the Embarra.ss River; at the time 
of his locating here, his capital consisted of 
one team and wagon, his provisions for the 
winter and $25 in money; his first log 
house and stable, which he built in 1842. 
was occupied by liim until about the year 
1853, when he erected his present hou.se 
and, a few years later, built a frame barn ; 
he now owns in his home farm 160 acres 
and upward of 30(1 acres in other jiarts of 
the township. Mr. Rardin has taken a 



MORGAN TOWNSHIP. 



629 



deep interest in the cause of religion and 
education, having been a member of the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church for up- 
ward of twenty years ; of school and town- 
ship offices, he has had his share, having 
held the offices of Supervisor, School Trust- 
ee and School Director several terms, and 
has held the office of Justice of the Peace 
for upward of thirty years in succession. 
He married Feb. 1, 1838, to Sarah Ran- 
kin ; she was born in Ohio Aug. 7, 1815 ; 
she died May 3, 1848, leaving two children 
now living, viz., David fborn Jan. 27, 
1839), Nancy (born Sept. 29, 1841). His 
marriage with Mary Ann Sousley was 
celebrated March 9, 1354 ; she was born in 
Fleming Co., Ky., Aug. 27, 1829 ; they 
have three children now living by this 
union, viz., George (born March 16, 1860), 
Ellen (March 18, 1862), Lucy (Aug. 18, 
1873. Mr. Rardin located here when 
wolves were plenty, and to protect the 
sheep they built close pens at the side of 
the house, in which the sheep were nightly 
driven ; game was also abundant, and to 
obtain a quail, wild turkeys, prairie chick- 
ens, wild geese, ducks or deer was the work 
of a few minutes. His milling was a work 
of four days' labor, driving oxen to Dan- 
ville, Montezuma or Terre Haute, and 
sometimes he was obliged to wait from two 
to three days to get his grist ground. 

JOHN H. RARDIN, farmer ; P. 0. j 
Rardin ; one of the early pioneers of Mor- 
gan Tp.; born in the State of Indiana, 
Feb. 24, 1818: he removed with his pa- 
rents when 3 months old to Campbell Co., ' 
Ky., where he lived until 25 years of age, i 
where ho was engaged in farming until he 
emigrated to Illinois and located in what is 
now known as Morgan Tp. in the fall of 
1842, living within one mile of his present 
place since that date, a period of nearly 
thirty-seven years ; at the time of locating 
here, his capital consisted of one team, 
without a dollar in money ; he worked by 
the day to pay for his first dwelling, which 
was an old log house ; he manufactured 
his first bedstead by boring a hole in one 
of the end and side logs, running a pole 
from each and entering a post at either end ; 
the following year, he went back to Ken- 
tucky, where he worked as farm laborer 
one season, at $9 per month, in which way 
he obtained means to enter forty acres of 
land, and upon which he commenced his 



first farming ; he has since disposed of the 
above, but now owns in his home farm, 280 
acres, and 160 acres in Oakland Tp., all of 
the above being accumulated by his own 
hard labor, energy and industry ; although 
in his 61st year, and having suffered all 
the hardships and exposure of frontier 
life, he is now in possession of all his facul- 
ties, and daily attends to the care of his 
stock, and such other duties as his farm 
requires. He married March 6, 1845, to 
Melinda Clark ; she was born in Ken- 
tucky Oct. 25, 1824; they have three 
children now living by this union, viz., 
Mary Ann, born Feb. 13, 1846, now Mrs. 
Porter Johnson ; Samuel Rardin, born 
Jan. 2, 1850, now merchant and Postmas- 
ter at Rardin ; James K., born June 28, 
1851, now practicing law at Charleston ; 
Mrs. Rardin died March 13, 1857. His 
marriage with Rebecca Hurst was cele- 
brated in the spring of 1859 ; she was 
born in Edgar Co., 111., April 17, 1825; 
she died April 17, 1870, leaving one child, 
now living — Malinda J., born May 15, 
1862. He married for his third wife Mrs. 
Nancy Campbell, Dec. 17, 1873 ; she was 
born in Jefferson Co., Ind., Jan. 30, 1830; 
she was the daughter of John McCrory, 
one of the early pioneers of Clark Co., 
111., who located in Clark Co. in 1838 ; 
they have one child by this union— John 
H. Rardin, born Feb. 3, 1875. 

ISAAC ROBERTS, retired farmer and 
blacksmith ; P. 0. Charleston ; born in 
Bourbon Co., Ky., Feb. 25, 1807; his 
grandfather emigrated from Wales in the 
early part of the seventeenth century, and 
located in Virginia, then to Kentucky, 
where he died ; his father, Azariah Roberts, 
was born in Kentucky about the year 
1775, and died in Indiana about 1847. 
The subject of this sketch removed to 
Scott Co., Ky., when quite young, where 
he lived until 22 years of age, and learned 
and worked ai the blacksmith trade until 
1828, when he removed to Hendricks Co., 
Ind., and followed his trade until 1852, 
during a period 'of twenty-four years ; he 
then emigrated to Illinois, and located upon 
his present place in June, 1853, where 
he has since continued to live ; he first 
purchased 120 acres of land upon his pres- 
ent faim, to which he has since added un- 
til he has 360 acres, which he has accumu- 
lated by his own hard labor, energy and 



630 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



industry. Ho married in April, 1822, to 
Nancy Bowles ; she was born in Bourbon 
Co., Ky., in November, 1807; she died 
Feb. 28, 1866 ; nine children were thefruit 
of this union, five of whom are deceased ; 
the names of the living are William D., 
born April 29, 1829; Aratus, born Oct. 
20, 1833 ; Isaac M., born June 16, 1847, 
and Alpheus, born Feb. 24, 1850 ; Mr. 
Roberts' children are all living within one 
mile of his present home. William D. 
married in 1850 to Ann Douglas ; she died 
Feb. 25, 1866, leaving three children ; he 
married for his second wife Cynthia Lan- 
man ; she died Dec. 27, 1878, leaving 
four children. Aratus married in 1854 to 
Araminta Bradfield ; she died in 1858, leav- 
ing one child — Charles W., born March 16, 
1857 ; his second marriage with Auyziller 
Nelson was celebrated in 1865 ; they have 
three children now living by this union — 
Alpheus, Aratus J. and Ella. Isaac M. 
married Feb. 18, 1867, to Patience Mary- 
mee ; she was born in Indiana Jan. 30, 
1844 ; they have three children now living, 
viz.: John T., born March 10, 1868; 
Phuebe J., born Feb. 21, 1875, and Julia 
M., born July 3, 1878. Alpheus married 
Amanda Wilkin April 4, 1872 ; she was 
born in Coles Co., 111.; they have one child 
—Daisy D. 

WM. H. REYNOLDS, far.; P. 0. Oak- 
land ; born in Fairfield Co., Ohio, May 29, 
1837, where he was brought up on a farm 
until about 18 years of age, when he emi- 
grated to Clark Co., 111., and located for 
one year; thence to Coles Co., where he 
hired as farm laborer for two years, when 
he rented land and farmed three years. 
He enlisted July 25, 1861, in Col. Ogles- 
by's regiment — the 8th I. V. I. — going in 
camp at Cairo, where he remained about 
two months, during which time he was 
engaged in rcconnoiterin^ expeditions in 
Missouri ; he then joined the Army of the 
West under Gen. Grant, and was in many 
severe battles, among which were Ft. Don- 
elson, Shiloh, Corinth, siege and capture 
of Vicksburg, after which he went with 
the army South to New Orleans, and went 
into winter quarters, remaining until the 
spring of 1865, when they went to Mobile, 
which place they captured after remaining 
there two months; went to Shreveport, 
La., then to Marshall, Tex., where he re- 
ceived a furlough, and while at home was 



mustered out of service by s])ecial order 
from the War Department April 20, 1866. 
Mr. Reynolds was in the Union Army 
nearly five years, and while he had many 
narrow escapes ; was wounded only once, 
while making a charge at Raymond, 
Miss., having the flesh torn from one 
of his fingers. At the battle of Shiloh, 
he received a bullet through his pants, one 
through his blouse, and one struck the 
stock of his gun ; his comrades at either 
side were killed ; at the battle of Holly 
Springs, he was made prisoner, but was 
released by an attack of the Union army 
within about two hours ; he first enlisted 
for three years, and after receiving his 
discbarge, he re-enlLsted as veteran, and 
served until 1S6G. After receiving his 
discharge, he returned to Coles Co., where 
he engaged in farming until 1872, when 
went to Kansas and located 160 acres of 
land, upon which he lived until 1876, 
when he returned to Coles Co., 111., and 
located upon his present place, where he 
has since lived ; his home farm contains 
162 acres, mostly prairie land. He mar- 
ried in 1 855 to Mary E. Harvey ; she 
died in February, 1860 ; he married for 
his second wife Hester Tuttle, in 18(j3; 
she died in 1867, leaving one child — Min- 
nie B.; his marriage with Margaret E. 
Collins was celebrated May 23, 1 869 ; they 
have four children by this union, viz., 
Maynard Oscar, Martha J., Ida May, 
John W. Mrs Reynolds was born March 
6, 1845 ; she was the daughter of Watson 
Collins, one of the early pioneers of Coles 
Co., and whose biography appears in this 
work. 

JOHN G. SAILER, farmer; P. 
Rardin ; born in Wurtemberg, Germany,. 
Oct. 18, 1823, where ho attended school 
and engaged in farming until 21 years of 
age, when he was drafted in the 2d Regt. 
of cavalry, where he served two years, 
when he received a furlough, subject to the 
call of the King, and, at the expiration of 
about four months, war being declared be- 
tween (xcrmany and Denmark, he was 
called into service and served during 
the war, which continued for a period of 
two years, at the close of which, the Ger- 
man rebellion breaking out, in which he 
served until the same was subdued, which 
was about twelve months; he then engaged 
in farming until 1853, when he emigrated 



MORGAN TOWNSHIP. 



631 



to America, landing in New York Nov. 
10, of the Slime year; he then went to 
Pennsylvania, where he worked upon a 
farm for six months, at §8 per month ; he 
then went to Indiana, where he worked as 
farm laborer for two years, at SI 6 per 
month ; he then located near Charleston, 
Coles Co., 111., where he was employed by 
Jacob P. Decker eight months, when he 
removed to Morgan Tp. and located upon 
Sec. 0, in the spring of 1857, where he 
has since lived ; he owns upward of one 
hundred acres, upon which he has good 
buildings; he erected his house in 1869. 
His marriage with Meli.ssa Gillaspie was 
celebrated March IS, 1857 : she was born 
in Clermont Co., Ohio, Jan. 19, 1838; 
they have two children now living by this 
union, viz., Rosa C, born Dec. 15, 1860, 
and Nancy C, born Deo. 29, 1862; Mrs. 
Sailer was the oldest daughter of Augustus 
Gillaspie, her mother being a sister of 
John H. and Jacob L. Hardin, whose bi- 
ography appear in this work ; her parents 
were among the early pioneers ol Coles 
Co., making the journey with teams from 
Ohio, in company of John H. and Jacob 
Rardin, and locating in this township in 
the Ml of 1842. Mr. Sailer has reared 
from childhood James E. Archer, who 
was born in Oakland Feb. 11, 1856 ; his 
father died when he was 9 months old, and 
Mr. Sailer has educated him and treated 
him as one of his own children since his 
adoption. 

PETER TAYLOR, farmer. Sec. 19 ; P. 
0. Oakland ; born in Champaign Co., 
Ohio, April 25, 1820, where he lived until 
1853 ; his father, John Taylor, died when 
he was 13 years of age, and, he being the 
oldest son, remained with his mother and 
managed the farm until 23 years of age, 
at which time he rented land and engaged 
in farming until the fall of 1853, when he 
emigrated to Illinois with his family and 
located in what is now known as Morgan 
Tp. ; he then rented the A. B. Florer 
farm, where ho lived for twelve years, the 
last few years of which he had power of 
attorney to transact business in the name 
of A. B. Florer in his absence ; he re- 
moved upon his present place in 1865, 
where he has since continued to live, and 
where he owns sixty acres of land, upon 
which he has good farm buildings. He 
married Jan. 12, 1843, to Elizabeth 



Moody; she was born in Ohio Nov. 12, 
1817; she died Dec. 18, 1860, leaving 
five children now living, having lost three 
by death ; the names of the living are John 
T., Oliver S., William H., Emery M., 
Francis B. His marriage with Mary 
Housel was celebrated Feb. 2, 1862 ; she 
was born in Champaign Co., Ohio, March 
4, 1829 ; five children were the fruit of 
this union, three of which are deceased ; 
the names of the living are Loyal P. and 
Ira D. 

JOHN T. TAYLOR, farmer; P. O. 
Rardin ; born in Champaign Co., Ohio, 
Dec. 24, 1843, where he lived until 9 
years of age, when he emigrated with his 
parents to Illinois and located in what is 
now known as Morgan Tp., in the fall of 
1853, and where he has since continued to 
live within two and a half miles of his 
present location ; he lived with his parents 
and engaged in farming until the spring of 
1864, when he commenced farming upon 
his own account upon the place where he 
has since lived. He owns in his own farm 
7141 acres, which he has improved, and 
upon which he has erected good buildings, 
and 98 acres in other parts of the county ; 
when Mr. Taylor first located upon his 
present place, there was upon the same an 
old log house and barn, which were among 
the first buildings erected in this township ; 
he erected his pre.sent barn in 1869, and 
house in 1873, His marriage with Mary 
Elizabeth Ross was celebrated Jan, 21, 
1864 ; she was born in Morgan Tp., 111., 
Nov. 11, 1845 ; seven children are the 
fruit of this union, two of which are de- 
ceased ; the names of the living are Clar- 
inda J., Margaret E., Alice A., Samuel 
P. and Martha I. ; the deceased are John 
P. and Sarah C. Mr. Taylor is a son of 
Peter Taylor, who located in this township 
in 1853, and who still lives upon Sec. 19, 
Morgan Tp. ; his mother died Dec. 18, 
1860 ; Mrs. Taylor is the only surviving 
child of Samuel and Catherine J. Ross ; 
her father was born Dec. 9, 1801, in Ken- 
tucky, and emigrated from Bourbon Co., 
Ky., in 1840, locating in Morgan Tp., 
where he lived until his decease, which 
occurred June 17, 1853 ; Mrs. Ross was 
daughter of David Morgan, who emigrated 
from Indiana, and located in Morgan Tp. 
in 1835; she was born Feb. 22, 1822, 
and died Nov. 17, 1853. 



632 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



ANDREW WALTON, farmer: P. O. 
Oakland ; born in Coles Co., 111., Oct. 20, 
1850 ; he was the son of George L. Wal- 
ton, who emigrated to Coles Co. in 184-1, 
and located in Morgan Tp. ; he died in 
1857. Mrs. Walton died in 1870 ; the 
children are all deceased with the exception 
of the subject of this sketch, who is the 
only surviving member of the family. 
After the decease of his father he worked as 
farm laborer until 1878, five years of which 
was with J. B. Williams, and four years 
with Watson CoUius, feeding stock, etc. 
His marriage with Eliza A. Collins 
was celebrated July 7, 1877 ; she was born 
in Coles Co., 111., June 29, 185C, upon the 
place where she has always lived, and 
which is now her home ; she was the 
daughter of Watson Collins, of the early 
pioneers of Coles Co., and whose biography 
appears in this work. 

JOHN WINKELBLACK, farmer and 
stock -raiser; P. 0. Charleston ; born in 
Dauphin Co., Penn., March 4, 1805, 
where he lived until 15 years of age, when 
he learned and worked at the tanner's and 
currier's trade at Harrisburg, Penn., until 
1829, at which date he emigrated to Ohio, 
working at Cleveland, Massillon and Zanes- 
ville until February, 1830, when he went 
to Pennsylvania and the following spring 
returned to Zaoesville, Ohio, where he 
followed his trade until the fall of 1835 ; 
he then emigrated to Illinois and located 
upon Sec. 30, Morgan Tp., where he now 
lives; upon locating here he entered 160 
and purchased 230 acres of land, to which 
he afterward added until he held about 
1100 acres, which he had accumulated by 
his own hard labor, energy and industry ; 
when lie first located here, wolves were 
plenty, and to obtain ([uail, prairie chickens, 
wihi gee.se, ducks, turkeys or deer, it was 
only necessary to shoot from your own 
door or window ; bis trips to mill consumed 
from four to seven days, the distance being 
fifty miles, either to Roseville or Terre 
Haute, Ind.; although now in his 75th 
year, he is in possession of all his faculties, 
and daily attends to his stock, nf wliieh he 
has 70 head of cattle, 1 horses and GO 
hogs. He married, March 4, 1841, to 
Catharine Weaver ; she was born in York 
Co., Penn., Oct. 23, 1822 ; she died Jan. 
23, 1866, leaving twelve children, viz.: 
William H., Milton C, Robert A., Mason 



F., Nancy J., Thomas T., Mary E., John, 
Victoria S., Daniel, Susannah, Jacob H. 
Mr. Winkelblack has taken a deep interest in 
the cause of education, having been School 
Trustee and Director, the latter oflfiec which, 
he now holds, he has held many years. 

JOHN WOODFALL deceased, farmer. 
The subject of this sketch was born 
in England about the year 1807 ; he emi- 
grated to America while quite a young 
man and located in Louisville, Ky., where 
he worked in a foundry and machine shop 
for about fifteen years, when he located in 
Morgan Tp., Coles Co., 111., in January, 
1857, when he purchased 200 acres of land 
in Sec. 31, where he lived until his death, 
which occurred June 14, 1857, being in- 
stantly killed by lightning while planting 
corn, leaving a widow and seven children. 
His marriage with Jane Stinson was cele- 
brated in the fall of 1842; she was born 
in Scotland and emigrated to America 
with her parents when quite young. They 
had eight children by this union, viz., 
Margaret J., born Oct. 24. 1844 ; Richard, 
born April 12, 1848; Hannah, born 
March 10, 1849 — died in the spring of 
1860; Charles, born Feb. 6, 1851 ; James, 
born Feb. 29, 1 852 ; John W., born Feb. 
5, 1854; Theodore, born May 19, 1857 ; 
Alice D. B., born May 23, 1861. 

WM. E. WORSHAM, farmer; P.O. 
Oakland ; born in Kosciusko Co., Ind., 
Feb. 19, 1850; here he attended the com- 
mon schools until 15 years of age, when 
he emigrated with his parents to Coles Co., 
111., Feb. 7, 1865; here his father, Will- 
iam Worsliam, died May 12, 1877, and his 
mother dic^d Jan. 19, 1879. Upon locat- 
ing here, Mr. W. assisted his father in 
farming until 19 years of age, when he 
engaged in school-teaching during the fall 
and winter, and following (arming in sum- 
mer until 1873, when he located upon his 
present place, which contains 150 acres of 
prairie aud timber land, and was one of 
the first places .settled upon and improved 
in Morgan Tp. His marriage with Mar- 
tha V. Collins was celebrated Dec. 13, 
1873 ; she was born in ]Morgan Tp., Coles 
Co., Oct. 26, 1850. They have one child 
by this union — William Wat.son Worsham, 
born Jan. 4, 1875. Mrs. Wonshara is a 
daughter of Watson Collins, of the early 
pioneers, and whose biography appears in 
this work. 



! 



HUMBOLT TOWNSHIP. 



633 



HUMBOLT TOWNSHIP. 



RICHARD AVEY, former and stock- 
dealer ; P. 0. Areola; the subject of this 
sketch was born ia Suffolk Co., Eng., Aug. 
19, 1837. He married Miss Celia Oakland 
May 31, 1858 ; she was born in Norway, 
Feb. 7, 1841 ; they had eight children — 
seven living, viz., Mary J., William T., 
John L., Maud I., Richard (i. N., Mar- 
tha C. and Oscar L. ; Leander R. died 
Sept. 25, 1866 ; he lived in England about 
eighteen years, when he came to the United 
States, and settled in LaSalle Co., III., 
where he lived about two years ; he then 
came to Coles Co; this was in 1857; he 
settled on his present place and has lived 
here since. He has held the office of Com- 
missioner of Highways two terms, and 
School Director some nine years, also Town 
Collector and Treasurer of Commissioners 
of Highways. He owns 125 acres in this 
township, which he has earned by his own 
labor and management ; he is a member of 
the Episcopal Church, and has been con- 
nected with the same all his life. 

JAMES M. BE ALE, firmer and stock- 
dealer ; P. 0. Areola ; was born in Mason 
Co., W. Va., Jan. 1, 1825. He married 
Miss Jane R. Wylie in the fall of 1852 ; 
she was born in Brooke Co., W. Va. ; they 
had six children — three living, viz., Ida 
M., J. Edwin and Florence; he lived in 
West Virginia until 1826, when, with his 
parents, he went to Kentucky, where he 
lived until 1833, when he went to Vir- 
ginia, where he lived until 1857, when he 
came to Illinois and settled on his farm in 
Humbolt Tp., in Coles Co., where he lived 
until 1870, when he moved to the village 
of Humbolt and lived there until 1876, 
when ho moved to Areola ; and, though 
his residence is in Areola, he sjiends the 
most of his time on his farm in Humbolt. 
He is no office-seeker, and has taken no 
part in township affairs, except connected 
with the schools. He owns 280 acres in 
Humbolt Tp., which he has earned by his 
own labor and management ; his parents, 
Richard and Hannah Willson Beale, were 
natives of Virginia ; .she died in Kentucky, 
and he died in Natchez, Jliss. 

JOHN W. BEAVERS, deceased ; was 
born in Hampshire Co., Va.,Sept. 3, 1814; 
he married Miss Mary A. Madden Sept. 



10, 1840 ; she was born in Hampshire Co., 
Va., March 26, 1819 ; they had seven 
children, six living — Samuel M., John B., 
Richard R., George W., Marcellus S. and 
Mary E. He lived in Virginia until 1854, 
when he moved to Illinois, and settled 
about one-fourth of a mile west of the 
present village of Humbolt; in 1856, he 
moved to Iowa, and in 1857 he came to 
the present place ; he was one of the first 
Road Commissioners in this township 
under organization ; he also held the 
office of Supervisor for a number of years ; 
he lived on the present place until his 
death, April 14, 1875. Mrs. Beavers and 
family all live here on the old homestead. 
All the children are single except Marcel- 
lus S., who married MissSallie A. Nichol- 
son, of Humbolt Tp., Feb. 23, 1879. 

BROWN BROS., RICHARD AND 
DANIEL, farming, stock and road grad- 
ing and ditching ; P. 0. Humbolt ; are na- 
tives of Nelson and Hardin Cos., Ky. ; they 
were born Dec. 22, 1826, and July 22, 
1832, respectively. They were born on 
the farm, and have always followed farm- 
ing ; they lived in Kentucky until the fall 
of 1854, when they came to Illinois, and 
settled about ten miles south of Charleston, 
where they lived about three months ; they 
then moved on the Sjiringfield road, in 
Douglas Co., where they lived one year, 
when, in 1856, they came to the present 
place, and have lived here since. With the 
exception of a term as Assessor by Rich- 
ard, they have held no office, except con- 
nected with the school and road. Richard 
Brown married Miss Elizabeth Morrison, 
of Kentucky, Sept. 23, 1852 ; she died 
Nov. 7, 1860. They had five children, 
two living, viz., Sally Ann and Mary Jane. 
His present wife was Mrs. O'Bannon, 
formerly Mi.ss Elizabeth Ann Bridwell ; 
they were married Feb. 16, 1862 ; they 
have two children, viz., Ida B. and Rich- 
ard Alonzo. He owns over 200 acres in 
this township, which he has earned by his 
own labor and management. Daniel Brown 
married Miss Mary Morrison, of Ken- 
tucky, Dec. 3, 1853. They had seven 
children, five living, viz., John P., Will- 
iam A., Susan T., James H. and Alburtis 
R. He owns over 200 acres in this town- 



634 



BIOGRArHICAL SKETCHES: 



ship, which he has earned by his own labor 
and management. Brown Bros., Hum- 
bolt, 111. ; all kinds of grading and ditch- 
ins done; estimates furnished. 

D. A. BOWMAN, blacksmith and gen- 
eral jobber; P. 0. Humbolt, 111.; was born 
in Perry Co., Ohio, Dec. 5, 1845. He 
married Miss Sarah McCravy Oct. 1, 1867 ; 
she was born in East Tennessee ; they had 
three children, two living, viz., Charles A. 
and Lydia L. He lived in Ohio three 
years, when, with his parents, he came to 
Illinois, and settled near Kobinson; in 
1860, he began to learn bis trade with T. 
J. Sims, plow-manufacturer at that place. 
In 1864, he enlisted in the 135th 111. Ilegt., 
he being Regimental Fifer ; was discharged 
in November following, and began work at 
his trade with Mr. Stifle, of Stifle.sville ; 
next worked at Oblong City with Mr. 
Zugler ; next with Mr. Sentney, in Hum- 
bolt ; then with Miller & Miller, of Mat- 
toon, and, in August, 1866, he began work 
in Areola for Mr. Jacobs, and, in June, 
1867, he worked in Humbolt for Mr. 
Sentney, and, in October, after his mar- 
riage, he went in partnership with Mr. 
Jacobs, of Areola ; in 1868, he worked 
for Mr. Garrett, in Windsor, and, in 1869, 
he opened a shop of his own in Areola ; 
in the fall of the same year, he came to 
Humbolt and carried on wagon and car- 
riage making and blacksmithing ; in 1874, 
he sold his wagon business and rented out 
his blacksmith-shop and tnok a position at 
Homer in the carriage factory of Mr. Cu- 
sick; in 1875, he returned to Humbolt and 
resumed business in his former stand, and, 
as will be seen, his nineteen years' experi- 
ence has been such as to specially adapt 
him to his specialties of horse-shoeing and 
plow-work. 

S. C. DORAN, farming and stock; P. 
0. Mattoon ; the subject of this sketch 
was born in Grayson Co., Ky., Dec. 12, 
1827. He married Miss Eliza A. Wortr 
ham Nov. 5, 1850; she was born in the 
same place Nov. 18, 1830; they had ten 
children, seven living, viz., David W., 
Mary L., Pjdwin W., George M., Nannie 
A., Oscar J. and John H. He was born 
on his father's farm, and moved to Hart 
Co., Ky., with his parents, in 1832, and 
lived there until 1 854 ; he then went to 
Grayson Co., and engaged in farming ; in 
1860, he came to Illinois and settled on 



his present place. He has held no office 
except connected with the road and school ; 
he is now .serving in his second term as 
Commissioner of Highways. He owns 120 
acres in this township, upon which, in 
1878, he established a station on the Illi- 
nois Central R. R. — which passes through 
his farm — which is known as Doran's 
Crossing. He has been a member of the 
Cumberland Presbyterians since 1850. 
His parents, Thomas and Mary Cleaver 
Doran, were natives of Nelson and Wash- 
ington Cos., Ky.; they died in 1853 and 
1854, respectively, in Kentucky. 

JAMES EDGAR, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Humbolt ; the subject of this 
sketch was born in Suffolk Co., England, 
March 21, 1838. He married Miss Mar- 
garet Hiiligoss May 8, 1862 ; she was born 
in Rush Co., Ind., Sept. 15, 1845; they 
had seven children, five living, viz., John 
P.. W^illiam T., Ora May, James Rue and 
Lcroy. He lived in England fifteen years ; 
he then moved to Scotland, where he lived 
two years and returned to England ; re- 
mained there until he was 19, when he 
came to the United States, arriving at 
Chicago, and, in 1857, he came to Coles 
Co., and settled near his present place ; in 
1858, he came to his present place and has 
lived here since. He has held the office 
of Collector, Town Clerk and has been 
School Director some nine or ten years. 
He owns 120 acres in this township, which 
he has earned by his own labor and man- 
agement. 

JACOB ERNST, farmer and stock- 
raiser; P.O. Humbolt; the subject of this 
sketch was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, 
March 30, 1839. He married Miss Julia 
Anna Joose Aug. 16, 1861 ; she was born 
in Baden, (Jermany, June 20, 1844 ; they 
had nine children, eight living, viz., George 
A., John M., Flora May, Mary A., Harry 
D., Willis E., Clarence and Jacob E.; 
Charlie died June 4, 1866. He lived in 
Germany about fifteen years, when he 
came to the United States and settled in 
Meadville, Penn., where he lived until 
1855 ; he tbon moved to Owen Co., Ind. ; 
theuce to Hendricks Co., and, in 1857, he 
came to Coles Co., III.; he had visited here 
in 1856 ; in March, 1867, he came to his 
present place, and has lived here since. 
He has held the office of School Director 
several terms, and is at present Commis- 



HUMBOLT TOWNSHIP. 



635 



sioner of Highways in tliis township ; he 
owns 159 acres in this township, which ho 
has earned by his own labor and manage- 
ment. 

J. W. FARRAR, farmer and stock ; 
P. 0. Mattoon ; the subject of this 
sketch was born in South CaroliDa, near 
Charleston. March 4, 1827. He married 
Miss Ann M. Talbot Oct. 12, 1851 ; she 
was born in Henderson Co., Ky., Oct. 9, 
l£22-r-ti»try baJ eight children, two living, 
viz., Joseph P. and Lizzie A. He lived 
about eighteen months in South Carolina, 
when, with his parents, he moved to Perry 
Co., Mo., where he engaged in the 
warehouse and wood business; he lived 
here with his parents about six months, 
when, with his grandparents, he went to 
Illinois and settled at Lebanon, in St. 
Clair Co., where he lived until he was 8 
years of age ; while here his grandfather 
died, and his grandmother and he went to 
Mount Vernon, Ind., where they lived with 
her son ; he lived here three years ; he 
then went to New Harmony and engaged 
on a farm, where he worked two years; 
he then went to Stewartsville and appren- 
ticed to the tanning business, remaining 
three and a half years; he then returned 
to Perry Co., Mo., and engaged in tan- 
ning, following his trade some four years ; 
he then engaged in shipping fowls to New 
Orleans, and followed the business about 
four years ; he then followed his trade for 
about four years ; he then went to Posey 
Co., Ind., and engaged in farming, remain- 
ing until 1861, when he came to Illinois 
and settled in Coles Co., about four miles 
east of his present place, and in 1864 he 
came to his present place and has lived 
here since. He has held the oiBce of Road 
Commissioner three years, that of School 
Trustee some four years — also Director for 
a number of years. He owns 310 acres 
of land in this county, which he has earned 
by his own labor and management. 

WM. B. HAWKINS, retired farmer ; 
P. 0. Humbolt ; the subject of this sketch 
is one of the early settlers of this town- 
ship ; he was born in Boone Co., Ky., July 
31, 1.^21. He married Miss Abigail Mor- 
gan Feb. 20, 1843 ; she was born in Ohio, 
and died Oct. 8, 1846 ; they had two chil- 
dren, viz., Francis M. and Louisa A. ; his 
present wife was Miss Nancy Banner; they 
were married Oct. 4, 1848 ; she was born 



in Rush Co., Ind., Oct. 11, 1823; he lived 
about two and a half years in Kentucky, 
when, with his parents, he moved to Ru.sh 
Co., Ind., where they engaged in farming ; 
he lived there until 1840 ; he then came 
to Illinois and engaged by the month on a 
farm on the Okaw, now in Coles Co. ; he 
lived there about eighteen months, then 
went to Indiana, and lived there until 
1850, when he again came to Coles Co. 
and settled in Humbolt Tp., about one 
mile from the present village of Humbolt ; 
at this time there were less than one dozen 
settlers in this township ; he lived on his 
farm until 1865, then here to the village; 
he was the first Township Collector in this 
township and served in offices connected 
with the school and road ; though he yet 
retains the old homestead, he takes no act- 
ive part in its management ; in 1866, he 
engaged in the drug business in this vil- 
lage, and continued the business until 
1874, since which time he has been living 
retired. 

REV. R. C. HILL, farming and stock; 
P. 0. Charleston ; the subject of this 
sketch was born in Sullivan Co., Ind., 
Dee. 11. 1817. He married Miss Mary 
A. Woods Dec. 10, 1839 ; she was born 
in Sullivan Co., Ind., May 23, 1817; they 
had six children, four living, viz., Frank- 
lin P., John W., Martha J. and Elizabeth 
M. ; he lived in Indiana twelve years, 
when, with his parents, he came to Illinois 
and settled in Clark Co., where they en- 
gaged in farming ; in 1846, he came to 
Coles Co. and settled in La Fayette Tp., re- 
maining one year ; he then went to 
Charleston Tp., where he lived about 
eighteen months, when he again went to 
La Fayette Tp., and, in 1853, he came to 
his present place, and has lived here since, 
except two and a h:df years in Charleston ; 
he has been connected with the Cumber- 
land Presbyterian Church for forty-seven 
years, and has been preaching since ; 
licensed 32 years ago ; he owns 1 60 acres in 
this county, which he has earned entirely 
by his own labor and management ; his 
parents. Rev. Isaac and Margaret Cun- 
ningham Hill, were natives of Kentucky 
and Pennsylvania ; they were married in 
Kentucky ; he died in Clark Co., 111., and 
she died here in Coles Co. ; they had 
thirteen children, eight boys and five girls ; 
four of the boys studied medicine, two 



636 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



«ngaged in the grocery and pork trade and 
another engaged as a traveling salesman ; 
Mr. F. P. Hill, eldest son of Kev. R. C. 
Hilll, enlisted, in 1862, in the 123d 111. 
V. I., which was mounted after four 
months' service ; he remained in the ser- 
vice until the close of the war ; he took 
part in the battles of Chickamauga, Selma, 
Atlanta, and the other battles of the regi- 
ment. 

JAMES HOOD, farming and stock; 
P. O. Areola ; the subject of this sketch 
was born in We.st Union, Adams Co., 
Ohio, Oct. 29, 1834. He married Miss 
Sarah E. Willson Jan. 1, 18(31 ; she was 
born in Adams Co., Ohio ; they have sev- 
«n children, viz., John E., Mary S., Sarah 
B., James W., Annie E., Robert B. and 
Clara Dell. His father was engaged in 
general merchandise, and he assisted in 
the business until he was about 26 years 
■of age ; he then came West and herded 
cattle in this neighborhood for one year ; 
he then went back to Ohio and engaged 
in the milling business, renting his father's 
grist-mill ; he followed the business one 
year; he then came West and improved a 
farm in this township, remaining here one 
year ; he again went back to Ohio, and 
engaged as assistant manager of the Etna 
Furnace, at Ironton, Ohio, and followed 
the business three years, when for the 
third time he came West, and finished the 
improvements on his farm, and lived there 
until 1877, when he came to his present 
place. He is no oflSce-seeker, and has 
held no office except connected with the 
schools. He owns 500 acres in this 
county. 

JOHN JARVIS, farming and stock ; 
P. 0. Areola ; the subject of this sketch 
was born in Madison Co., Ky., Dec. 25, 
1809 ; he married Miss Polly Ray, Jan. 
22, 1830 ; she was born, same place, Aug. 
9, 1802 ; they had eight children, two 
living, viz., Robert and William. He 
lived in Kentucky until 1830, when he 
came to Illinois and settled in Edgar Co., 
near Paris, where he lived three years ; he 
then moved to Kentucky, where he lived 
eleven years ; he then moved again to 
Illinois and settled in Edgar Co., about 
fourteen miles west of Paris; ho lived there 
about nine years ; he then moved to 
Coles Co. and settled on the Embarra.ss ; 
while here his wife died ; he then married 



Mrs. Rodman (formerly Miss Rachel 
Flora) ; she was a native of Kentucky. 
In 1865, they moved to the present place ; 
in March, 1868, he lost his second wife; 
■they had no children. June 16, 1868, 
he married 31iss Mary Hedges ; she was 
born in Fountain Co., Ind., Nov. 3, 1848 ; 
they have three children, viz., James E., 
Melissa C. and Loyal. He is no office- 
seeker, having all he can do to attend his 
private business. In 1874, he moved to 
Nebraska and lived there three years, when 
he returned to his present place ; he owns 
287 acres in this county and 240 in 
Nebraska, which he has earned by his own 
labor and management. 

JOHN JOHNSON, farming and stock ; 
P. 0. Humbolt ; the subject of this sketch 
was born in County Permana, Ireland, 
1838 ; he married Miss Martha E. Smith 
Jan. 22, 1868; she was born in North 
Okaw Tp., Coles Co., 111., April 3, 1843 ; 
they have four children, viz., William, 
Allie, John and Walter. He lived in Ire- 
land until 1850, when, with his parents, 
he earned to the United States and settled 
in Moultrie Co., 111., where they engaged 
in farming; he lived there until 1868, 
though, with his brothers, he helped carry 
on a farm in North Okaw Tp. since 1856 ; 
in 1868, he moved to the same, and in 1877 
he came to his present place. He is no 
office-seeker, and has held no office except 
connected with the schools ; he is in part- 
nership with his brothers, William, James 
and Fyederick ; they own 1441 acres in 
this county, and are the largest stock 
raisers in this part of the county. His 
parents, John and Ann Bell Johnson, 
were natives of Fermana Co., Ireland, 
where they were married; in 1850, they 
came to the United States. 

CAPT. DAVID McKINNEY, farmer; 
P. 0. Areola; the subject of this sketch 
was born in Butler Co., Ohio, March 22, 
1837. He married Miss Catharine Rork 
Jan. 25, 1866 ; she was born same place; 
they have six children, viz., Ida May, 
Oron W., Charles N., Jessie, Otto and 
Ruey ; he lived in Ohio until he was 21, 
when he came to Illinois and settled in 
Coles, now Douglas Co., near Areola; in 
December, 1861, he enlisted in the 54th 
I. V. I., he being Orderly of Co. I, and 
after seven months' service he was made 
Second Lieutenant, and after serving one 



HUMBOLT TOWNSHIP. 



637 



year in this office, he was elected and pro- 
moted to Captain of Co. I ; he was in the 
service four years, or during; the war, and 
was in the battles of Shiloh, Vioksburj;, 
Helena, Little Rock, Ashley Station, where 
he was taken prisoner and was paroled after 
nineteen days' captivity ; then being ex- 
changed, he resumed his command and 
took part in the other battles of the regi- 
ment. After returning from the army, he 
came to Areola and lived there until 1871 ; 
he then came to his present place and has 
lived here since ; he has held the office of 
Highway Commissioner and School Di- 
rector, and is at present School Trustee ; 
he owns 120 acres in this township, which 
he has earned by his own labor and man- 
agement. 

JOHN McBRIDE, farming and stock; 
P. 0. Areola ; was born in Somerset Co., 
N. J., Jan. 10, 1840. He married MLss 
Annie P. Koymcr Dec. 1, 1864; she was 
born same place, Dec. 1, 1847 ; they have 
one child, viz., 3Iiunie. He lived in New 
Jersey until he was 24 years old, when on 
being married he came to Illinois and set- 
tled in North Okaw Tp., of Coles Co.; in 
1867, he moved to this township and set- 
tled near his present place, to which he 
came in 1874 ; he has been Collector in 
this township one term ; he owns eighty 
acres in this township, which he has earned 
by his own labor and management. His 
parents, Robert and IMary Whitehead 
Mc Bride, were natives of New Jersey and 
England ; he died in New Jersey, and she 
died in this county while on a visit. 

GEORGE MOORE, farming and stock ; 
P. 0. Humbolt ; the subjectof this sketch 
was born in Adams Co., Ohio, June 17, 
1828. He married Miss Rebecca Ann 
McKee Jan. 30, 1851 ; she was born in 
Adams Co., Ohio, Oct. 20, 18.33 ; they had 
eight children, seven living, viz., Joseph 
N., Jennie. John C., George W., Oscar F., 
Stanley B. and Jessie ; he was born on his 
father's farm and lived there until he was 
26 years of age, when he was elected 
Treasurer of Adams Co., Ohio, and moved 
to West Union, the county seat ; he served 
in this position four years, when he en- 
gaged in the general merchandise business 
at same place, continuing the business for 
six years, when, in 1864, he sold out his 
business and came to his present place, and 
has lived here since ; though not one of 



the early settlers, he has had an active in- 
terest in the affairs of the county ; in 1868, 
he served as Collector, and, in 1871, he 
was elected Supervisor of Humbolt Tp.; 
the latter office he resigned the fall follow- 
ing his election, he being elected Treasurer 
of Coles Co., in which office he served 
two years, and in 1874 he was elected 
Sheriff of the county, serving two years. 
He owns 320 acres in this county, which 
he has earned by his own labor and man- 
agement, and has the satisfaction to know 
that he has so lived as not only to win but 
also to deserve the confidence and esteem 
of all who know him. 

JOHN MOORE, farming and stock ; 
P. 0. Humbolt ; the subject of this sketch 
was born in Adams Co., Ohio, Dec. 22, 
1830. He married Miss Eliza J. Grooms, 
July 11, 1852; she was born in Adams 
Co., Ohio, June 18, 1834. They had 
eleven children, eight living, viz., Alfred 
F., Almira F., Newton B., S. A. Douglas, 
Ella R., Ludora J., Ida I. and John E. 
He was born on his father's farm, and 
lived therefor twenty -seven years; he then 
came to Illinois and settled in Coles Co., 
on his present place ; this was in 1857, 
and has lived here since ; he has always 
been engaged as a fiirmer ; he has held the 
school offices, and has held the office of 
of Supervisor of Humbolt Tp. one 
term. He owns 909 acres of land in this 
county — principally in this township — 
which h(j has earned entirely by his own 
labor and management. His parents, 
Newton and Rebecca Burkitt Moore, were 
natives of Ohio, and were both born and 
raised on the farm they now reside on 
(the present farm formerly being two). 
Both are now living on the old homestead. 

H. D. MOORE, farming and stock ; P. 
0. Mattoon ; the subject of this sketch was 
born in Adams Co., Ohio, Nov. 14, 1840. 
He married Miss Elizabeth A. Bayliss 
October, 1861 ; she was born in the same 
place, and died in the fall of 1865. His 
present wife was Miss Sarah M. Thomas ; 
they were married in April, 1867 ; she was 
born in Adams Co., Ohio, Nov. 15, 1846. 
They have eight children, viz., Minnie A., 
Florence A., Cora B., Eliza M., Laura R., 
Emmie, Alfred N. and Charles B. He 
lived in Ohio twenty-one years, and then, 
in 1861, he enlisted in the 70th Ohio V. 
I. ; was in the service three years, and was 



638 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



in the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Vicks- 
burg, Missionary Ridge, Atlanta campaign, 
etc., etc. From the army he returned to 
his home in Ohio, and remaining there 
about one month, he came to Illinois and 
settled on his present place, and has lived 
here since. He owns 240 acres in this 
township, which he has earned by his own 
labor and management. 

WILLIAM A. POORMAN, forming 
and stock ; P. 0. Humbnlt, 111. ; the sub- 
ject of this sketch was born in Humbolt 
Tp., Coles Co., Ill, March 7, 1842. He 
married Miss Sarah Ann Wamsley April ' 
It, 18G6; she was born in Adams Co., 
Ohio; they have four children, viz., Cur- 
tis E., Oscar R., Saiah E. and Edward F. 
He was born on his father's farm, probably 
the second child born in this township ; he 
lived at home with his parents until 1866, 
when, on being married, he engaged in 
farming on his own account, working part 
of his father's farm ; in 1868, he came to 
his present place, and has lived here since. 
In 1864, he enlisted in the 143d Regt. 
I. V. I., but, owing to sickness, did not go 
out with the regiment. He has held the 
oflSce of Town Clerk, and has been School 
Director a number of years. He owns 
160 acres of land in this township, which 
he has earned by his own labor and man- 
agement. 

JAMES SHOEMAKER, farming and [ 
stock ; P. O. Loxa ; the subject of this 
sketch was born in Washington Co., Va., I 
Feb. 19, 1825. He married Miss Tabi- 
tha Mason Sept. 3, 1863 ; she was born in . 
Fayette Co., Ky., Aug. 30, 1840 ; they ' 
had .seven children, four living, viz., Mary 
E., William K., James S. and Franklin 
R. He lived in Virginia nearly ten years, 
when, with his parents, he came to Illinois 
and settled in Coles Co., one mile north of 
Charleston ; this was in December, 1 834 ; 
they lived there four years, then moved to 
La Fayette Township, on the Springfield 
road, five miles west of Charleston ; while 
there, his father died; in 1850, he came 
to his present place, he being the first set- 
tler in this part of the township. In 
1862, he enlisted in the 123d I. V. I., 
which, after four months' service, was 
mounted ; he held the position of First 
Lieutenant ; he remained in the service 
nearly one year, and teok part in the bat- 
tles of Perrjville and Milton, and also the 



minor engagements of the regiment. He 
has held the ofiice of Assessor two years, 
and was Supervisor of Humbolt Tp. for 
the years 1865 and 1866. He owns 382 
acres in this county, which he has earned 
by his own labor and management. His 
parents, John and Annie Brown Shoe- 
maker, were natives of North Carolina, 
where they were married ; both died in 
this county, he in 1843, and she in 185(!. 

JOHN W. SEAMAN, farming and 
stock ; P. 0. Humbolt ; was born in Adams 
Co., Ohio, May 28, 1837. He married 
MLss Mary Ann Ellison Feb. 15,1859; 
she was born in the same place Sept. 1, 
1840 ; they have ten children, viz., Emma 
J., James H., FraTiklin A., Fred J., 
Charlie, Harry, Lizzie S., Thomas E., 
Wm. E. and Maggie. He lived in Ohio 
until 1862 ; he was born on the farm and 
has always followed farming; in 1862, he 
came to Illinois and settled in North Okaw 
Tp., where he lived three years ; he then 
moved to Humbolt Tp., and leased the 
Blue Grass Grove farm, and, in 1869, he 
came to his present place and has lived 
here since. He owns 360 acres in this 
township, which he has earned entirely by 
his own labor and management and prin- 
cipally during the short time he has lived 
in this township. 

RICHARD THOMAS, farming; P. O. 
Mattoon ; the subject of this sketch was 
born in Carnarvonshire, North Wales, 
Great Britain, Dec. 18, 1832. He mar- 
ried Miss Sarah L. Worden Dec. 12, 1853 ; 
she was born in Fairfield Co., Conn., 
March 13, 1836 ; they had seven children, 
five living, viz., Robert A., Laura A., 
Annie May, Mary Alice and Lizzie. He 
lived in Wales about fifteen years, when 
he came to the United States with some 
relatives and settled in Oneida Co., N. Y., 
where he engaged in farming, remaining 
about three years, when he moved to Fair- 
field Co., Conn., where he worked on a 
farm and followed teaming one year; he 
then worked in the rolling-mill one year, 
and llien engaged in boating — first run- 
ning packet from Greenwich to New York, 
then in freighting, follnwing the business 
about four years ; he then, in 1856, moved 
to Franklin (!o., Ind., where he engaged 
in farming, and followed same until 1870, 
when he came to Illinois and settled in 
Cumberland Co., where he lived about 



SEVEN HICKORY TOWNSHIP. 



639 



nine months, and, in the fall of 1870, he 
came to his present place and has lived 
here since. He has held no office, except 
connected with the road or school. He 
owns eighty acres in this township, which 
he has earned by his own labor and man- 
agement. 

GEO. H. TERRY, grocer, Humbolt ; 
is a native of Hamilton Co., Ohio. In 
August, 1875, he came to Coles Co., and 
settled here in Humbolt and engaged in 
his present business; July 15, 187-i, he 
married Miss Dolly Wells, of Humbolt, 
111.; they have one child, viz., Mary L. 
During his residence in Ohio, aside from 
obtaining his education, he was principally 
engaged in teaching school. 

ADAM WHITMER, ftirmer; P. 0. 
Humbolt. The subject of this sketch 
was born in Perry Co., Ohio, Dec. 26, 



1832 ; he married Miss Clara Jane Bugh 
Nov. 1, 1864; she was born same place 
Jan 11, 18.38; they have three children, 
viz., Laura, Elmo and Eva. He lived in 
Ohio until 1854, when he came to Illinois 
and settled in Crawford Co., where he 
lived one year ; he then went to Dakota 
and engaged with a Government survey- 
ing party ; \\e camped for two and a half 
years, where Yankton now stands ; he 
lived in Dakota until 1859, when he went 
to Colorado and engaged in mining, and 
lived there until 1864, when he returned 
to Ohio, and in 1865 he came to Coles Co., 
III., and settled on his present place and 
has lived here since. He has been Town- 
ship Collector one year and School Director 
some five or six years. He owns 160 
acres, in this township, which he has 
earned by his own labor and management. 



SEVEN HICKORY TOWNSHIP. 



GEO. W. BAKER, farmer; P. 0. 
Charleston ; the subject of this sketch was 
born in Philadelphia, Penn., May 30, 
1824. He married Miss Susan Bell 
Aug. 26, 1846 ; she was born in Floyd 
Co., Ind., March 12, 1830, and died 
March 9, 1863 ; they had six children, 
three living, viz., George B., Wm. A. and 
John v.; his present wife was Mrs. Shaw, 
formerly Miss Jane Hancock ; they were 
married Oct. 19, 1803 ; she was born in 
Floyd Co., Ind., .Jan. 17, 1830; .she had 
by former marriage five children, two liv- 
ing, viz., Flora J. Shaw and Sarah E. 
Shaw. He Uved in Philadelphia about 
fourteen years, when, with his parents, he 
moved to Floyd Co., Ind., where his father 
engaged at his trade of shoemaking; he 
lived there until 1859, when he went to 
Spencer Co., Ind., and engaged in farming, 
remaining six years ; he then returned to 
Floyd Co., and, after remaining two years, 
be came to Illinois and settled on his pres- 
ent place, and has lived here since; he 
owns 308 acres in this county, which 
he has earned by his own labi}r and 
management. His parents, Stephen and 
Mary Edwards Bakc^r, were natives of 
Philadelphia and Maryland ; they were 
married in Philadelphia ; in 1837, they ! 



moved to Indiana and settled in Flood Co. 
where they died. 

A. J. BRADFORD, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Hinesboro, Douglas Co.; the 
subject of this sketch was born in Greene 
Co.", Penn., Nov. 12, 1832. He married 
Miss Susan S. Emory March 31, 1854; 
she was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Dee. 
24, 1836 ; they had eight children, seven 
living, viz., Henry M., Mary -J., B. Emory, 
Charles C., S. Edwin, John B. andPerrie; 
Lineous W. died Oct 10, 1865. He lived 
in Pennsylvania about sixteen years, when, 
with his brother-in-law, he went to Ohio 
and settled in Licking Co,, where he re- 
mained until 1857, when he came to Illi- 
nois and settled in Coles (now Douglas) 
Co.; remained one year, when he came to 
his present place, building on the Coles 
Co. part of farm ; in 187(i, he came to his 
present residence ; he owns 240 acres, 
which he ha,s earned by his own labor and 
management. His parents, Henry and 
Mrs. Hannah Morris Bradford, were na- 
tives of Pennsylvania ; he died in 1839 ; 
she is living near the old homestead with a 
son. 

BUSH BROS., farm and stock ; P. 0. 
Charleston ; David, John and Nelson ; 
David was born in Northampton Co., Penn., 



640 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



March 1, 1832. He married Miss Elinor 
Stiif Jan. 28, 1864 ; she was born in Perry 
Co., Ohio ; they have five children — four 
living, viz., Lillie D., John H., Eliza M. 
and Mary F. ; be lived two years in Penn- 
sylvania, when, with his parents, be moved 
to Ohio, and, in 1838, they came to Illi- 
nois and settled in Edgar Co.,. ithere they 
lived until 1849, when they came to Coles 
Co., and settled about two and a half miles 
west of Charleston, and in 1854, they came 
to Seven Hickory, and settled near the pres- 
ent place. John H. Bush was born in Perry 
Co., Ohio, Oct. 5, 1837. He married Miss 
Polly Ann Jarvis Oct. 27, 1874 ; she was 
born in Illinois ; they have one child, viz., 
Loyal Nelson ; in 1862, he enlisted in the 
123d 111. Inf. ; was in the service three 
years ; after one year's service be was sent to 
the hospital, remaining six months ; was 
then transferred to Invalid Corps, and 
acted as guard. Nelson Bush was born in 
Edgar Co., 111., May 8, 1846, and in com- 
pany with his brothers has always lived 
with his parents ; their parents, Jonathan 
and Eliza Lee Bush, were natives of Penn- 
sylvania ; he died Oct. 6, 1856 ; she died 
in January, 1872. 

COL. JOHN COFER, of Areola Tp., 
Douglas Co., 111.; the subject of this 
memoir was born near Cave Spring, Bul- 
litt Co., Ky., July 9, 1804; bis parents, 
Thomas and Mrs. Sarah Winu Griffin 
Cofer, were natives of Virginia and Mary- 
land. Dec. 1, 1825, he married Miss 
Mary Eleanor Macgill, who was born in 
Annapolis, Md.,Feb. 7, 1807 ; her parents, 
Bobert and Mrs. Helen Stockett Macgill, 
daughter of Dr. Thomas Noble Stockett, 
of Annapolis, were residents of Maryland. 
The Colonel's early education was limited, 
but his thirst for knowledge made him a 
good student, and he soon became a pro- 
found thinker, a logical reasoner and 
ready writer. He was a consistent Whig 
as long as that gallant party retained its 
organization ; he represented Hardin Co. 
in the Lower House of the Legislature of 
Kentucky, in 1838, 1839, 1848 and 1841, 
and Hardin, Meade and La Rue Cos. in the 
Senate of that State from 1848 to 1850 ; 
being a farmer, he became the champion 
of the gi'cat interests of labor and pro- 
duction, an advocate of economy in public 
expenditures, a system of general educa- 
tion, internal improvements, and charita- 



ble institutions ; as a member of the com- 
mittee on internal improvements, he orisi- 
nated and aided in drafting and passing 
the charter of the Louisville & Nashville 
R. R. Co., now the most prosperous cor- 
poration in Kentucky; when railroad en- 
terprises were untried in that State, he was 
sent as one of a committee to investigate 
the operations of such roads in the East 
and West, and made an able report there- 
on, which, with his earnest and eloquent 
appeals to the people along the line of the 
proposed road, contributed largely to in- 
duce them to vote subscriptions of stock 
which secured the building of the same. 
In 1854, be removed to Illinois, and be- 
came Postmaster at Rural Retreat, in 
Douglas Co., Elector on the Fillmore 
ticket in 1856, and on the Bell and Ever- 
ett ticket in 1860, since which be has 
been Independent in polities, though gen- 
erally acting with the Democratic party ; 
devoted to the Union of the States, he 
opposed, with manly firmness, nullifica- 
tion, secession and emancipation (unless 
gradual and accompanied by colonization]; 
in 1871-72 he represented Douglas 
Co. in the General Assembly with his ac- 
customed zeal and ability ; through strict- 
ly temperate habits and indomitable 
energy, he has been successful in business, 
providing homes for all of bis children, of 
whom sis out of ten are living, viz., John 
S., who married Miss Mary K. Wyeth, 
and lives near Areola, 111.; Mary H.. mar- 
ried Rev. D. T. Shirley, and lives in Cook 
Co., Texas; Thomas N., married Miss 
Rachel E. Combs, and lives in Coles Co., 
111.; William H. H., married Miss Mag- 
gie J. Daly, and lives in Cook Co., Texas; 
Henrietta .M., married Mr. Thomas Mid- 
winter, and lives in Areola Tp., Douglas 
Co., 111.; Susan A., married Mr. H. M. 
McCrory, and lives in Texas. The Colonel 
retains a competency for himself and 
wife in their old age. He has been a con- 
sistent member of the Methodist Church 
for more than fifty years, and has the 
proud satisfaction, while remembering that 
he has been the architect of his own for- 
tune, to know that he has so lived as not 
only to win but also to deserve the confi- 
dence and esteem of all who knew him. 

DANIEL S. CARNEY, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. O. Charleston ; the sub- 
ject of this sketch was born in Delaware 



SEVEN HICKORY TOWNSHIP. 



641 



Co., Ohio, March 2, 1822. He married 
Miss Margaret Hemieger March 27, 1843 ; 
she was born in Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, 
Sept. 4, 1819; they had five children, 
four living, viz., Addie D., Jasper C, 
Sarah F. and Charles L. He lived in 
Ohio until 1864, when he came to Illinois 
and settled on his present place, and has 
lived here since ; he owns 182 acres in this 
county, which he has earned by his own 
labor and management ; his parents, 
Thomas and Sarah Lot Carney, were na- 
tives of Pennsylvania, where they were 
married May 22, 1808 ; they moved to 
Ohio in 1816, and settled in Delaware Co., 
where they died April 15, 1862. and May 
:j, 1854. 

THOMAS N. COFER, farmer and 
stock-raiser; P.O. Areola; the subject of 
this sketch was born in Hardin Co., Ky., 
July 20, 1839. He married Miss Rachel 
E. Combs Nov. 23, 1870 ; she was born 
in Clarke Co., Ind., July 29, 1851 ; they 
have three children, viz., Thomas N., Jr., 
William E. and John C. He lived in 
Kentucky until the spring of 1854, when, 
with his parents he came to Illinois and 
settled in Coles (now Douglas) Co., at 
Rural Retreat, where they lived about three 
years ; he then moved to a farm near by, 
where he remained until 1870, when he 
moved to his present place, and has lived 
here since. He owns 320 acres, which he 
has earned by his own labor and manage- 
ment ; he is a son of Col. John Cofer, 
whose sketch will be found in this work. 

JACOB K. COTTONHAM, farmer; 
P. 0. Charleston ; the subject of this 
sketch was born in Floyd Co., Ind., Nov. 15, 
1831. He married Miss Sallie Ann Fow- 
ler March 5, 1855; she was born in Coles 
Co., 111., Dec. 13, 1843 ; they had seven 
children, six living, viz., William E., Mar- 
garet L., George A., Joseph U., Charles 
D. W. and Hervey F. He lived in Indi- 
ana until 1855, when he came to Illinois, 
and settled in Coles Co., near Charleston, 
and engaged in brickmaking, and continued 
in the business nearly eight years, when he 
engaged in farming ; in 1874, he came to 
his present place, and has lived here since ; 
he owns 120 aqfes here and 49 in Charles- 
ton Tp., which he has principally earned 
by his own labor. His parents, Andrew 
and Margaret Grant Cottonham, were na- 
tives of Kentucky and Virginia ; they 



were married in Indiana ; they came to 
Coles Co. in 1855 ; he died Aug. 29, 1869 ; 
she is living herewith her son. His wife's 
parents were James and Susan Ann Lum- 
brick Fowler ; were natives of Tennessee 
and Coles Co., 111. (probably), they being 
in this county at a very early date ; they 
died in 1843 and 1848, respectively. 

ANDREW J. CRAIG, farming and 
stock ; P. 0. Charleston ; the subject of 
this sketch was born in Morgan Tp., Coles 
Co., 111., Sept. 11, 1846. He married 
Miss Sarah I. Zink Sept. 27, 1872; she 
was born in Grand View Tp., Edgar Co., 
111., Aug. 9, 1848 ; they have three chil- 
dren, viz., Luther Z., Franklin H. and 
Arthur E. He was born on the farm and 
lived there until 1856, when, with his par- 
ents, he went to Sims Tp., in Edgar Co., 
and lived there until he was 21, when he 
came to his present place, and has lived 
here since, the place being wild land when 
he settled; he has 160 acres under culti- 
vation and well-improved. His parents, 
Isaac N. and Elizabeth Blayer Craig, are 
spoken of at length elsewhere. 

J. J. FOSTER, farming and .stock ; P. 
0. Areola ; the subject of this sketch was 
born in Lawrence Co., Ind., May 18, 
1831. He married Miss Catharine Beggs 
Jan. 31, 1859 ; she was born in Clarke Co., 
Ind., May 10, 1838, and died May 14, 
1866 ; they had three children, viz., 
Eugenia, Sarah M. and Dela J. ; his pres- 
ent wife was Miss Mclinda C. Beggs ; they 
were married Dec. 18, 1867; she was a 
sister of his first wife ; she was born in 
Clarke Co., Ind., Sept. 3, 1839 ; they have 
three children, viz., Orestes, Claudius B. 
and Ida C. He was born on the farm 
and lived there for twenty-five years, when 
he came to Illinois and settled in Coles 
Co. near his present place, where he en- 
gaged in farming, and remained for seven 
years ; he then moved to his present 
place, and has lived here since. He has 
held the oflice of School Trustee for eleven 
years, and is now serving his third term 
as Supervisor of this township. He owns 
310 acres of land in this township. His 
parents, William and Mrs. Sarah McCor- 
mick Foster, were natives of Virginia, 
where they were married ; they moved to 
Clarke Co., Ind. and remained two years, 
when they moved to Lawrence Co., Ind., 
where they died; Mrs. Foster's parents 



642 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



■were James and Mrs. Matilda Drummond 
Beggs; they were natives of Clark Co., 
Ind., wliere he died ; Mrs. Beggs is living 
there on the old homestead. 

JOHN FOREMAN, farmer; P. 0. 
Charleston ; the subject of this sketch was 
born in the District of Columbia March 
17, 1823. He married Miss Harriet E. 
Richardson Oct. 10, 1842; she was born 
in Franklin Co., Ohio, March 24, 1820; 
they have seven children, viz., William 
T., John R., Joseph, Isaac P., David B., 
Thomas N. and Edward P. He lived in 
the District of Columbia until he was 12 
years of age; he then moved to Fayette 
Co., Ky., with his parents, who engaged 
in farming, and he remained until 1853, 
when he came to Illinois and settled in 
Charleston, where he lived two years while 
improving his farm ; he then came on his 
present place, and has lived here since. 
In 1865, he was elected Supervisor of 
Seven Hickory Tp. ; he was also one of 
the first two Justices of the Peace of this 
towu.ship, being elected in 18G0, and 
served four years; he has also served as 
Commissioner of Highways and Township 
Trustee. He owns 260 acres in this 
county. His parents, Joseph and Mrs. 
Chloe Payne Foreman, were natives of 
England and Virginia ; they were married 
in the District of Columbia; they moved 
to Fayette Co., Ky., in 1834, where his 
father died ; his mother died in Lexing- 
ton, Ky. 

JACOB HARRY, farmer and stock; 
P. 0. Humbolt ; the subject of this sketch 
was born in Preble Co., Ohio, Jan. 14, 
1816; he married Miss Susannah Tobey, 
Aug. 1, 1839 ; she was born in Washing- 
ton Co., Md., Dec. 15, 1819. They had 
eleven children, nine living, viz., Jeffer- 
son, Madison and Amanda, Hiram, Nathan- 
iel, Fraukliu, Cliuton, Stephen A. D. and 
Nelson. He lived in Ohio until 1855; 
he was raised on the farm and also learned 
the brickmason's trade ; he then went 
west, visited Kansas and finally settled in 
Callaway Co., Mo., near JeH'ersoii City, 
where he engaged in farming, remaining 
one year; he then, in 18.")G, came to Coles 
Co., 111., and settled in Humbolt T|)., 
where he farmed until 1865, when he 
came to his present place ; in 1867, he 
was elected Supervisor of Seven Hickory 
Tp., and held the office for three terms ; he 



owns 167 acres in the township ; his par- 
ents, Jacob and Mrs. Mary Davis Harry, 
were natives of North Carolina, where they 
were married ; they moved to Ohio in 
1811, where both have since died. 

GEORGE C. KEMP, former and stock ; 
P. 0. Areola ; the subject of this sketch 
was born in Ohio Co., Ind., Aug. 25, 
1846. He married Miss Minerva D. Stone 
Oct. 14, 1866; she was born same place 
Dec. 6, 1845. They have three children, 
viz., Theodore, born April 16, 1869; 
Laura B., born Dec. 4, 1875, and Charles 
C, born Nov. 8, 1877. He lived in Indi- 
ana until September, 1868, when he came to 
his present place ; he owns 349 acres in 
this township, which includes the original 
200 acres given him by his father Ezra, 
who located it in quite a novel way — set- 
ting out from Indiana on horse, he stopped 
over Sunday with a farmer living in the 
timber about eight miles east of here, of 
whom he learned there was vacant land 
about eight miles west, but no one there 
to show it, and no marks to distinguish 
either land or distance ; but they conceived 
the plan of putting the horse at a certain 
pace and keep him westward for a certain 
time, when he would be on the land, and in 
this way located the same; he (Ezra 
Kemp) married Miss Tryphena Scrantou ; 
both were natives of Ohio Co., Ind., where 
they were married ; he died Feb. 1, 1870; 
she is living in Rising Sun, Ind. 

JOB W. MASSEY, farming and stock; 
P. 0. Charleston ; the subject of this 
sketch was born in Cheshire, England, 
June 28, 1822. He married Miss Sarah 
Gould Dec. 4, 1847 ; she was born in 
North Molton, Devonshire, England, Feb. 
23, 1827, and died Aug. 8, 1877. They 
had six children, viz., William H., now 
living ; Job Francis died at the age of 17, 
child died in infancy, Nannie now living, 
George E. died at 18 months of age and 
Joseph Charles died iu his ISth year, from 
the kick of a horse. He lived in England 
about six years, when, with his parents, he 
came to the United States and settled iu 
New Jersey, at Bellville, where his father 
engaged at his business of contracting ma- 
chinist, he contracting to furnish machin- 
ery for some large calico print works located 
there ; lie also took extensive contracts for 
cotton-mill machinery in Tennessee. In 
1835, they moved to Wappinger's Falls, 



SEVEN HICKORY TOWNSHIP. 



643 



Dutotess Co., N. Y., where he lived eighteen 
years, except one year (18-14), when he 
traveled in England with his brother, who 
was an invalid. His parents died during 
his residence at the Falls. In 1853, he 
went to Newburg, and engaged in model 
making, remaining three years, though 
part of the time he worked in New York 
City. In 1856, he and his brother, Henry, 
came West, looking for a location for a 
general merchandise business. After vis- 
iting several points, Dubuque, Iowa, was 
selected, but owing to the death of his 
brother, the business was not opened, and 
he determined to go into the farming and 
stock business, and after looking around, 
he located on his present place in 1857, 
and has lived here since, though from 
1861 to 1871, he principally carried on 
model-making in Chicago, his family re- 
siding here. He has been Assessor four 
terms. School Director some eight to ten 
years, also Justice of the Peace for seven 
years. He owns 120 acres in this town- 
ship, well improved and stocked, which he 
has earned by his own labor and manage- 
ment. 

T. J. McMILLIN, farm and stock; 
P. 0. Rural Retreat ; the subject of this 
sketch was born in Clarke Co., Ind., April 
6, 1840. He married Miss Margaret J. 
Combs Dec. 16, 1862; she was born in 
Clarke Co., Ind., June 17, 1841 ; they had 
three children — two living, viz., Rosella 
and Maggie F. ; he lived in Indiana twen- 
ty years ; he then moved to Illinois and 
settled in Coles Co., near the Humbolt 
line, where he engaged in farming, and re- 
mained until 1863, when he came to his 
present place, and has lived here since. 
He owns 240 acres in this township, which 
he has earned by his own labor and man- 
agement ; his parents, William and Mrs. 
Jane Chambers McMillin, were natives of 
Kentucky ; when they were married, they 
moved to Indiana, where his mother died 
in 1853 ; his father is living in Clarke Co., 
Ind., on the old homestead. 

J. M. MOCK, farming ; P. 0. Charles- 
ton ; the subject of this sketch was born 
in Hocking Co., Ohio, April 1, 1839. He 
married Miss Catharine J. Zimmerman 
Nov. 22, 1866 ; she was born in Coles Co., 
111., near Ashmore, June 17, 1843; they 
had six children — four living, viz,, Sarah 
€,, Edward W., Oscar B, and Florence I. ; 



he lived in Ohio until he was 15 years old,' 
when, with his parents he moved to Coles 
Co., 111., and settled near Oakland ; this 
was in 1854; they engaged in farming, 
where he lived until 1860 ; they then 
moved to Lafayette Tp., remained until 
1861, when he enlisted in the 21st 111. Inft., 
and remained in the service over four 
years ; he was made Corporal during the 
third year's service, and was made Captain 
after his re-enlistment ; he was in the bat- 
tles of Stone River, Resaca, Chickamauga 
and Atlanta campaign, also Franklin, where 
he was wounded. He owns 160 acres in 
this county ; his parents, James T. and 
Sarah Honnold Mock, were natives of Vir- 
ginia and Ohio ; he died Sept. 21, 1873 ; 
she has since married Mr. John Hurst, 
and is living in Lafayette Tp. 

M. E. O'H AIR, farming and stock ; P. 
0. Charleston ; was born in Morgan Co., 
Ky., Feb. 22, 1829. He married Miss 
Catharine R. Zink June 6, 1856 ; she was .^ 
born in Edgar Co., 111., and died Dec. 7, 
1873 ; they had six children, viz., Calvin 
L., Laura B., Nettie T., Harvey Z., Gladys 
V. and Alvaretta C. He married his 
present wife. Miss Sarah E. Bryant, Oct. 
14, 1875; she was born in Edgar Co., 111., 
July 29, 1852; they have two children, 
viz.. Charles H. and Francina D. He 
lived in Kentucky until he was 13 years 
old, when, with his parents, he came to 
Illinois, and settled in Edgar Co., where 
he lived until he became of age,, when he 
went to California, his object being to mine ; 
he remained two years, meeting with fair 
success ; in 1852, he returned to his home 
in Edgar Co., and engaged in the stock 
business; in 1853, he bought part of his 
present place, and settled and improved 
the same; in 1857, he removed to the vil- 
lage of Kansas, in Edgar Co., 111., and en- 
gaged in the general merchandise business, 
which he continued about four years; in 
1860, he moved to Paris, and served as 
Sheriff of Edgar Co. for two years ; he was 
then appointed Deputy Sheriff, and served 
two years, and, in 1865, he returned to 
his present place; in 1871, he was elected 
Supervisor of Seven Hickory, and held the 
ofBce four years ; since which time he has 
held the office of Highway Commissioner. 
He owns 700 acres in this township, which 
he has earned by his own labor and man- 
agement. His parents, John and BIrs. 

9 



644 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



Eliza Hardwick O'Hair, were natives of 
Kentucky, where they were married ; in 
in 1842, they came tu Illinois, and settled 
in Edgar Co., where they now reside. 

ISAAC PERISHO, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Charleston ; the subject of 
this sketch was born in Monroe Co., Ind., 
May 2, 1818; he married Miss Sarah 
Zimerley Jan. 9, 1838 ; she was born in 
Washington Co., Va., Oct. 30, 1818, and 
died Dec. 25, 1842; they had three chil- 
dren, one living, viz., Jacob W. ; his second 
wife was Miss Leoina Purlee; they were 
married June 27, 1843 ; she was born in 
Washington Co., Ind., July 27, 1818, and 
died Oct. 15, 1844; they had one child, 
viz., Hiram ; his present wife was Mrs. 
Wells, formerly Miss Rosanna M. O'Hair; 
they were married June 12, 1845 ; she 
was bora in Morgan, now Wolfe Co., Ky., 
June 9, 1811 ; they had five children, four 
living, viz., Emily J., John E., Mary E. 
and Rosanna S. The present Mrs. Perisho 
had six children by a former marriage ; 
two are living, viz., William W. Wells and 
Lucinda F. Wells. He lived in Indiana 
seven years, when, with his parents, he 
moved to Illinois, and settled in Grand 
View Tp., of Edgar Co., and engaged in 
farming; this was in 1825; he lived with 
his parents until 1838, when he moved to 
a farm near by, where he lived until 1840, 
when he went to Jasper Co., 111., and im- 
proved a farm, remaining three years ; he 
then returned to Edgar Co. and engaged in 
farming, in what is now known as Sims Tp. ; 
he remained there until 1855, when he 
came to Coles Co., and settled on his present 
place. He is no office-seeker, his only office 
being connected with the school and road. 
He has owned about 400 acres in this 
county, but, having divided a large portion 
among his children, he retains but 160 acres 
as a competency tor himself and wife. Hi.s 
parents, Joseph and Mrs. Barbara Zink 
Perisho, were natives of North Carolina 
and Virginia ; they were married in Wash- 
ington Co., Ind., and settled in Edgar Co., 
El., in 1825, where they died April 23, 
1838, and Aug. 4, 1872, respectively. 

GRANVILLE F. RAPER, farmer; 
P. 0. Areola; is a native of Owen Co., 
Ind., where he was born Jan. 28, 1836. 
He married Miss Mary II. Roberts Aug. 
5, 1855 ; she was born in Greene Co., 
Ind., Sept. 13, 1832 ; they hud nine chil- , 



dren, six living, viz., James A., California 
J., Laura S., William 0., Albert H. and 
Granville S. He lived twenty-one years 
in Indiana, when he moved to Hancock 
Co., 111., and engaged in farming; remain- 
ing there three years, he returned to his old 
home in Indiana and lived there two years ; 
he then came to Illinois and settled in 
Douglas Co., near Tuscola, where he re- 
mained three years ; he then came to 
Coles Co. and settled in Humbolt Tp., and 
engaged in farming, which he continued 
for four years, when he moved to the vil- 
lage of Milton, now Humbolt, and engaged 
in the grocery business, remaining one 
year ; he then came to Seven Hickory and 
settled on a farm near the plankroad, 
where he lived one year ; he then came to 
his present place, and has lived here since ; 
he owns 160 acres, which he has earned 
entirely by his own labor and management. 
His parents were Berry and Mrs. Mary 
Evans Raper ; they were natives of Indi- 
ana and Kentucky ; they were married in 
Indiana, where his father died Jan. 20, 
1837 ; his mother married Mr. Thomas 
Evans, who has since died ; she is now 
living in Owen Co., Ind. 

LEVI ROSEBROUGH, farm and 
stock ; P. 0. Charleston ; the subject of 
this sketch was born in Warren Co., Ind., 
April 3, 1832. He married Mis.« Frances 
Fisher Sept. 5, 1852; she was born in 
Ross Co., Ohio, Feb. 2, 1832; they had 
eight children, seven living, viz., William 
I., James B., Albert, Sarah E., Rhoda M., 
Eva and Eli. He lived in Indiana until 
he was 12 years of age, when, with his 
parents, he came to Illinois and settled in 
Coles Co., near his present place — this was 
in 1843 — where he lived until he was 19; 
he then worked by the month until 1852, 
when, on being married, he rented his 
father's place and farmed the same one 
year. In 1853, leaving his wife here, he 
went to California, going the overland 
route by oxen — object, mining — remain- 
ing two years ; he met with fair success ; 
in 1855, he returned via Panama and New 
York, to this county, renting a farm and 
farming the same until 1859, when he 
bought sixty acres, being a part of his 
present place ; in 1867, he built his pres- 
ent residence, and has lived here since. 
In September, 1861, he enlisted in the 5th 
I. V. C, and was in service over three 



SEVEN HICKORY TOWNSHIP. 



645 



years ; was in the battles of Vicksburg. 
Meridien, Jackson, and many minor en- 
gagements. He owns 120 acres in this 
township, which he has earned by his own 
labor and management. His parents, 
John and Nancy White Rosebrough, were 
natives of Ohio ; they were married there 
and moved to Indiana, where she died 
about 1842 ; he then married Miss Zemru- 
dia Stewart, who was a native of Illinois ; 
they came to this county in 1843, where 
he died in 1856; Mrs. Rosebrough mar- 
ried again, and is now living in Kansas. 

J. SPRINGER, farmer; P. 0. Charles- 
ton. The subject of this sketch was born 
on the line between Fayette and Jessa- 
mine Counties, Ky., Feb. 13, 1808; he 
married Miss Lucy A. Payton on Easter 
Sunday, 1838 ; she was born in Fayette 
Co., Ky., Sept., 7, 1814. They had six 
children, three living, viz., Angeline, Nan- 
nie J. and Mary M. He lived in Ken- 
tucky twenty-one years ; he then went to 
Missouri and settled in Clay Co., where he 
engaged at his trade of wagon making, 
and remained seven or eight years; he 
then returned to Kentucky and followed 
his trade about twelve years, when he 
came to Illinois and followed his trade in 
Edgar Co., remaining four years. He 
then came to Coles Co. and engaged in the 
stock business with Mr. Peyton, in Mor- 
gan Tp., remaining four years ; he then 
came to his present place, where the part- 
nership was continued four years longer. 
In 1871, he was elected Justice of the 
Peace, and served four years ; he has been 
Commissioner of Highways two terms ; he 
has divided considerable land among his 
children, and retains a competency for 
himself and wife ; his children are all mar- 
ried and living in sia;ht. 

LILBURN SWINFORD, farm and 
stock ; P. 0. Charleston ; was born in 
Harrison Co., Ky., Jan. 31, 1808; he 
married Miss Frances Hendricks in Sep- 
tember, 1829 ; she was born in Pendleton 
Co., Ky., Dec. 19, 1809. They had eleven 
children, eight living, viz., William H., 
Martha A., Mary E., Julia A., Lucy, Lou- 
isa, Josephine and Benjamin F. He lived 
in Kentucky until 1839, when he moved 
to Indiana and settled near Greencastle, 
where he remained until 1847 ; he then 
moved to Illinois and settled near Ash- 
more, in Coles Co., and in 1865 he came i 



to his present place; he owns 200 acres in 
this county, which he has earned by his 
own labor and management. His parents, 
James and Sarah Adams Swinford, were 
natives of South Carolina and Virginia ; 
they were married in Kentucky ; both 
have died, she in Kentucky, he in Indiana. 
JAMES WHEATLEY, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Hinesboro ; the subject 
of this sketch was born in Charleston, 
Clarke Co., Ind., Aug. 9, 1826 ; hemarried 
Miss Mary E. Work Jan. 10, 1850 ; she 
was born in Clarke Co., Ind., Dec. 20,1831 ; 
they had six children, five living, viz., 
Junius, Dessie, Carlos, Lucien and Ozeta ; 
he lived in Indiana about eight years, when, 
with his father, he went to Kentucky and 
lived in Lexington and Harrodsburg until 
his 1 8th year, when he returned to his birth- 
place in Indiana and engaged in farming 
until he was married ; after his marriage, be 
removed to Southern Kentucky, and, in 
April, 1853, to Coles Co., and settled the 
farm on which he now resides ; his parents, 
Walter and Catharine (Beggs) Wheatley, 
were natives of Maryland and Virginia; they 
were married in Clarke Co., Ind. ; he was 
born July 12, 1791 ; in 1836, he went to 
Harrodsburg, and was appointed Postmas- 
ter of the place in 1843, which office he 
held until 1861, since which time he has 
not engaged in any business ; he is now 
living with a son in West Virginia ; his 
wife's parents, John and Hannah (^Thomas) 
Beggs, were natives of Augusta and Rock- 
ingham Cos., Va., and were born in Janu- 
ary, 1766, and November, 1764, respect- 
ively ; they were married in 1788, and 
pioved to Kentucky in 1792 or 1793, and 
to Clarke Co., Ind., in 1799, and died on 
the farm which they settled, in April, 1845, 
and May, 1853, respectively; of their 
nine children two survive, viz., Mary Stil- 
well (of Jackson Co., Ind.) and Ruth Cole 
(of Douglas Co., 111.) The present Mrs. 
Wheatley's parents, Samuel and Elizabeth 
(Henley) Work, were natives of Pennsyl- 
vania and North Carolina ; he emigrated to 
Bear Grass, Ky., where his father died; the 
care of the family then fell to him, and 
they moved to Clarke Co., Ind., and engaged 
in farming, where he died on a farm ad- 
joining the old homestead ; his wife's par- 
ents, Jesse and Catharine Henley, were 
natives of North Carolina, where he had 
been a slaveholder, having some forty-odd 



646 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



slaves, who, owing to his political views 
(of the Abolition school) were freed ; he 



moved to Clarke Co., Ind., about the year 
1800, where he engaged in farming. 



NORTH OKAW TOWNSHIP. 



NELSON W. AMES, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Mattoon ; one of the 
most prominent settlers ; was born in 
Wayne Co., Penn., Feb. 9, 1817; he is 
the son of Mr. Joseph Ames, now de- 
ceased, who was born in Connecticut, and 
was one of the early settlers of Pennsyl- 
vania, where he married Miss Gertrude 
Schenck, and where Mr. N. W. Ames, the 
subject of this sketch, was born. He was 
married Jan. 9, 1840, to Miss Nancy 
Hoalley, who was fborn in Pennsylvania 
May G, 1818, and who died Oct. 3, 1847. 
Mr. Ames removed from his native State 
to New Jersey, where he remained several 
years. On April 12, 1849, he was mar- 
ried again, to ^liss Susan A. Cramer, who 
was born in New Jersey June 2, 1830; 
they have seven children, viz., Oliver, 
George, Rutser, Newton, Louisa, Sarah 
and John. Mr. Ames came to this State 
and settled in Coles Co. in 1857; the 
farm which he owns, and upon which he 
now resides, he purchased from the Railroad 
Co. in the same year; it consists of 212 
acres, valued at $8,500. George, the sec- 
ond son of Mr. Ames, served as a volun- 
teer in the late war three years ; he en- 
listed in the 123d L V. I., and was dis- 



charged 



with 



honor at the close of the 
war 

GEORGE B E A T T y , farmer and 
stock-raLser ; P. 0. Mattoon ; was born in 
the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, 
April 6, 1810; came to the United States 
in 1830, to this State, and settled in Coles 
Co. in 1865. He was married April 13, 
1834, to Miss Anne Clegg, now deceased; 
she was born in Derbyshire, England, Oc- 
tober, 1812, and died Jan. 15, 1873; 
Elizabeth is the only child they have had. 
The farm of Mr. Beatty consists of eighty 
acres, valued at $3,000. 

A. J. BIGELOVV, farmer and stock- 
raiser; P. 0. Fuller's Point; one of the 
early settlers ; was born in Massachusetts 
Oct. 10, 1829 ; came to this State in 
1852, and settled in Edgar Co.; he removed 



to Coles Co. in 1852, where he has since 
resided ; his farm consists of 254 acres, 
valued at $7,000. He was married to 
Miss Ada Green, who was born in Massa- 
chusetts ; they have two children — Levi 
and Charley E. Since his residence in 
the township, he has held the office of 
Supervisor one year and School Director 
ten years. He was a participant in the 
late war, having enlisted in the 79th I. V. 
I.; after volunteering, he was commissioned 
Second Lieutenant, and later was promoted 
to First Lieutenant, and as such served 
faithfully for several months, when be was 
promoted to Captain ; he served in the war 
about three years, and was discharged with 
honor at its close. 

J. A. BROTHERTON, farmer and 
stock -raiser ; P. O. Mattoon ; was born in 
Indiana Nov. 12, 1841 ; came to this 
State and settled in Coles Co. in 1860 ; his 
farm consists of eighty acres, valued at 
$2,400. He was married to Miss Cathar- 
ine Earls, who was born in Illinois ; they 
have seven children, viz., Sarah, Delia, 
William M., Lawrence, Lewis, Eva and 
Robert, Since Mr. B.'s residence in the 
township, he has held the office of School 
Director three years. 

THOMAS FURNESS. farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. O. Fuller's Point ; one of 
the early settlers ; was born in Pickaway 
Co., Ohio, Feb. 17. 1825 ; came to this 
State and settled in Coles Co. in 1856, and 
with the exception of five years' residence 
in Moultrie Co., his home has been in 
Coles Co. ; his farm, which is located in 
both counties, consists of 240 acres, v;il- 
ucd at $7,200. He was married Dec. 25, 
1848, to Miss Mary Kepler, who was born 
in Pickaway Co., Ohio, Feb. 9, 1829; they 
have t«n children, seven of whom are liv- 
ing, viz., Louisa, Francis and Johnny, 
deceased ; Theodore, James, Cornelia, 
Willie, Laura, Georgie, and Walter. 

JOHN HENTON, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Coles Station ; one of the 
most prominent settlers ; was born in Fair- 



NORTH OKAW TOWNSHIP. 



647 



field Co., Ohio, Jan. 11, 1826; came 
to this State with his father's family, and 
settled in Moultrie Co. in 1S47, and in 
1879, he removed to Coles Co., and settled 
in North Okaw Tp. ; his farm consists of 
41 Oi acres, valued at $8,000. He was 
married to Miss Pheba Staley, who was 
born in White Co., 111. ; they have six 
children, viz., Alvaretta, George W., Oily, 
Melvin, Emma and Pheba L. During 
Mr. Henton's residence in Moultrie Co., he 
has held the offices of Township Supervisor 
and School Trustee, and Director, etc., 
seven years. 

JAMES M. HUNT, retired farmer; 
P. O. Cook's Mills ; was born in Indiana 
Jan. 16, 1840 ; his father, James Hunt, 
now deceased, was one of the early settlers 
of that State : they moved to Illinois and 
settled in Coles Co. in 1868 ; Mr. Hunt 
has followed the pursuits of a farmer and 
stock-raiser from boyhood ; he enlisted in 
the 83d Ind. V. I.; served nearly three 
years, and was discharged at the close of 
the war ; at the battle of Dallas he was 
wounded, the effects of which now compel 
him to retire from business. He was mar- 
ried to Miss Rachel R. Janes April 13, 
1875, who was born in Illinois. Oct. 17, 
1857. 

ALEXANDER HITCH, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Cook's Mills ; one of 
the early settlers ; was born in Louisville, 
Ky.. Jan. 9, 1827 ; moved to Ohio with 
his parents when he was 1 year old ; he 
was raised there, in Ross Co., and in 1850 
he came from Ohio to this State and set- 
tled in Coles Co. He was married May 
10, 1855, to Miss Permelia Ellis, who was 
born in Kentucky Oct. 13, 1833 ; they 
have had four children, three of whom are 
living, viz.. Belle, Sarah L. and Melissa E. ; 
deceased, Francis Marion. The farm of Mr. 
Hitch consists of 200 acres, valued at 
$5,000; since Mr. Hitch's residence in 
the township he has held office of School 
Director three years. Of the form he 
now owns, eighty acres of it he purchased 
from the R. R. Co. in 1862 ; the balance, 
which consists of 120 acres, he has since 
purchased, the entire amuuut of which he 
has made by his own labor and manage- 
ment. Since 1860 he been a memberof the 
Missionary Baptist Association, and in 
1863 he was ordained Deacon in that de- 
nomination. 



JAMES HAMILTON, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Cook's Mills ; one of 
the early settlers ; was born in Ohio, May 
1, 1826 ; came to this State in 1852, and 
settled in Coles Co. in the same year. He 
was married Nov. 16, 1853, to Miss M. L. 
Hoskins, who was born in Illinois, July 
12, 1831 ; they have seven children, viz., 
John R., William H., James L. (twins), 
David W., Albert G., Samuel L. and Mar- 
garet I. Their farm consists of 108 acres, 
valued at $3,500. Since Mr. Hamilton's 
residence in the township he has held the 
office of Justice of the Peace three years 
and on the Board of Commissioners six 
years ; he was also a participant in the late 
war, he having enlisted in the 130th I. V. I., 
served about eight months, and was dis- 
charged with honor on account of disabili- 
ties. 

MRS. ELLEN HOOTS, farming and 
stock-raising ; P. 0. Cook's Mills ; one of 
the natives of Illinois ; was born in Clark 
Co., July 4, 1845. She is the widow of 
the late Francis M. Hoots ; they were mar- 
ried Nov. 21, 1861 ; they have had ten 
children, eight of whom are living, viz., 
Edwin, Wm. A., Linea M., Albia, Bertie 
N., Arthur A., Nora Eva, and Francis 
M. ; deceased, Albert B. and Rosa. The 
farm of Mrs. Hoots is principally managed 
by herself and her children ; it contains 
3101 acres, valued at $9,500. 

DUDLEY HOPPER, farmer; P. 0. 
Mattoon ; one of the first settlers of Coles 
Co.; was born in Knox Co., Ky., Aug. 18, 
1826 ; came to this State with his father's 
family in 1837, when he was but a boy. 
He was married to Miss Jane Dixon, now 
deceased ; they have had four children, viz., 
Felitha, George, Harvey and Matilda. 
Mr. Hopper was married the second time 
to Miss Margaret Easter. His farm con- 
sists of 330 acres, valued at $9,900; since 
his residence in the township, he has held 
the office of Commissioner three years. 
He was a participant in the Mexican war, 
where he served eighteen months. His 
land, on which he now resides, was par- 
tially entered by himself from the Govern- 
ment. 

HENRY D. JENKINS. M. D., Ar- 
eola ; one of the early settlers ; was born 
in Bourbon Co., Ky., Dec. 30, 1822; 
came to this State and settled in what was 
then Coles Co. in 1855 ; his farm, being 



648 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



now located in Douglas Co., where he first 
settled, and which was at the time of his 
settlement all Coles Co., consists of 310 
acres. The Doctor is a graduate of the 
Transylvania University, located at Lex- 
ington, Ky.; since his residence in this 
county, he has practiced his profession as 
physician but very little ; his pursuits have 
been that of a farmer and stock-raiser, 
which seems to be his natural proclivity. 
In 186(3, he married Miss Mary F. Black- 
well, who was born in North Carolina Dec. 
2(5, 1841; they have two children, viz., 
John B. and Elisa D. 

WILLIAM JOHNSON, farmer and 
stock-raiser; P. 0. Cook's Mills; one of 
the early settlers ; was born March 22, 
1822 ; came to this State in 1850, and to 
this county and settled in North Okaw 
Tp. in 1857. He was married to Miss 
Mary J. Miller, who was born July 22, 
1834 ; they have four children, viz., 
Robert M., Anna A., Sarah J. and Frank- 
lin. The farm of Mr. Johnson consists of 
240 acres, valued at S7,000. Since his 
residence in the township he has held the 
office of School Trustee and Director 
several years. 

A. KITCHENS, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Cook's Mills ; one of the 
natives of Illinois ; was born in Clark 
Co., Jan. 23, 1843; he is the son of Eli 
E. Kitchens, deceased, who was one of the 
early settlers of the State. His farm con- 
sists of 100 acres, valued at S2,000. He 
was married to Miss Nancy E. Hoskins, 
now deceased ; they have had two children, 
viz., Maria E. and Suisan L. 

McCAGHA PHILLIPS, fltrmer; P. 0. 
Fuller's Point; one of the natives of 
Illinois; was born in Moultrie Co., Jan. 7, 
1856 ; he is the son of Mr. Calvin Phillijis, 
of Mattuon Tp., who is one of the early 
settlers of Coles Co. ; his farm consists of 
136 acres, valued at 84,500. He was 
married June 10, 1877, to Miss Mary A. 
Gilmer, who was born in Russell Co., Va., 
April 27, 1856 ; Loon is their only child. 

MARTIN PRICE, farmer; P. 0. 
Cook's Mills; one of the early settlers; 
wa.s born in Alabama March 4, 1827 ; 
came to this State in 1830, to Coles Co. in 
1842, and .settled in North Okaw. He 
was married Feb. 15, 1849 to Miss Mary 
J. Hoskins, who wa.s born in Illinois Jan. 
7, 1830; they have ten children, viz.; 



Mary Ann, Margaret M., Martha J., Lu- 
cinda D., Joseph A., Nancy M., Lowery 
M., Ruth, Belle, William E. and James 
F. Since Mr. Price's residence in the 
township he has held the office of Com- 
missioner of Highways four years, School 
Director twenty years, and is at present 
Supervisor, this being his fourth term in 
that office. His farm con.sists of sixty 
acres, valued at 82,000. 

THOMAS SENTENEY, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. O. Cook's Mills ; one of 
the early settlers of the county, was born 
in Kentucky May 16, 1819; came to this 
State in 1842, Coles Co. in 1853, and set- 
tled in North Okaw Tp. ; his farm con- 
sists of 104 acres, valued at 83.000, and 
since his residence in the township he ha.s 
held the office of Assessor one term. 
School Trustee and Director twelve years. 
He was married to Miss Anne Flemming, 
who was born in Indiana ; they have had 
seven children, viz., John T., Sarah, 
Mark, James L., Mary J., Samuel A. and 
Emma. 

THOMAS SMITH, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Mattoon ; was born in Coles 
Co, 111., Oct. 19. 1853; he is the son of 
Mr. W. H. Smith, deceased, and Mary A. 
Smith, deceased, who was formerly Miss 
Mary A. Osborn. The estate being un- 
settled, he is one of seven heirs to the 
homestead ; it contains 680 acres, valued 
at 820,400 ; the balance of the heirs, who 
are brothers and sisters of Mr. Smith, are 
Isabel, Martha, Delphine, Alice, Willis 
and Jo.seph. 

JOHN TURNER, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Fuller's Point ; one of the 
first settlers and pioneers, was born in Vir- 
ginia Dec. 16, 1812; came to this State 
and settled in Coles Co. in 1830; his first 
settlement was in what is now the town- 
ship of Paradise ; he cannot tell now that 
the township at that time had a name, and 
through it there was no mail-route ; in 
1835, he removed to North Okaw ; this 
section of country was at that time all 
called Okaw ; it derives its name from the 
two streams running through it ; Mr. Turner 
is now the oldest living settler in the town- 
ship. He was married to Miss Elsie J. 
Robison ; they have four children, viz., 
Mary J., John W., Francis M. and Walter 
W.; he was prcviousl)' married to Miss 
Matilda F. Simms, now deceased ; they 



PARADISE TOWNSHIP. 



649 



have had one child, viz., Rebecca J. The 
farm of Mr. Turner consists of ninety-two 
acres, valued at $2,000 ; since his resi- 
dence in the township, he has held the 
offices of Assessor, Supervisor and Col- 
lector. 

WILLIAM WRIGHTSELL, fiumer; 
P. 0. Turner's Point ; was born in Jefferson 
Co., Tenn., Oct. 9, 1811; came to this 
Stat« and settled in Coles Co., in 1856. 
Ho was married to Miss Permelia White 
Oct. 31, 1844; she was born in Jefferson 
Co., Tenn., Nov. 15, 1825 ; they have four 
children, viz., Sarah J., James M., Louisa 
E., and Margaret Ann. The farm of Mr. 
Wrightsell consists of sixty acres valued at 
Sl,800. He was a participant in the Black 
Hawk war, and is quite an early settler in 
the western part of Coles Co. 

JOHN WILSON, farmer, and Con- 
stable for Coles Co ; P. 0. Cook's Millss ; 
was born in Germany, March 8, 1840; 
came to the United States in 1857, and to 
this State in 1865 and to Coles Co. in 



1871. He was married to Miss Sarah 
Ann Prince, who was born in Indiana 
Jan. 19, 1848 ; they have two children 
deceased, yii., Mary C. and Louisa. Mr. 
Wilson has served a term in the United 
States Regular Army ; he enlisted from 
New York City in Co. D, in 1861 ; he 
served all through the late rebellion, and 
at its close was discharged with honor. 

JAMES P. WHITE, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Mattoon ; was born in Ten- 
nessee, March 5, 1841 ; came to this State 
in 1856, and to Coles Co., and settled in 
North Okaw Tp. in 1 858 ; his farm con- 
sists of forty-nine and a third acres, val- 
ued at $1,500. He was married Nov. 23, 
1865, to Miss Mary J. Wade, who was 
born in Coles Co., 111., June 4, 1847; 
they have had six children, five of whom 
are living, viz., Mary A., Nancy E., Effa 
N., Minnie and James E. ; deceased, Jes- 
sie. Since Mr. White's residence in the 
township, he has held the office of School 
Director six years. 



PARADISE TOWNSHIP. 



HENRY E. ALEXANDER, farmer; 
P. 0. Paradise ; is the son of Ebenezer and 
Dorcas Alexander ; was born in Tennessee, 
Obion Co., Sept. 2, 1827 ; moved with his 
parents to Coles Co. Dec. 20, 1828. Is 
the owner of 210 acres of land valued at 
or near $8,000 ; School Director two or 
three terms. Was married to Mary B. 
Curry, of Coles Co., June 10, 1852 ; names 
of children — boys — James E., William D., 
George 0. (Edward F., deceased) ; girls, 
Mary D., Margaret J. (Nancy E., de- 
ceased) ; Edward F. died June 16, 1865 ; 
Nancy E., Aug. 1, 1878 ; his father, Ebe- 
nezer Alexander, died Jan. 8, 1857, at 64 
years of age; his mother died April 12, 
1871 ; his father was one among the oldest 
settlers in this county, and was Justice of 
the Peace until the time of his death. 

WM. W. APPERSON, farmer ; P. 0. 
Mattoon; was born March 19, 1834, in 
Paradise Tp., Coles Co., 111. Owns 240 acres 
of land all well improved but 40 acres, prob- 
able value $9,000 or 810,000 ; publi-: offices 
held — Supervisor, one year. Commissioner 
of Highwa3's, three years. Maiden name of 



wife Barbara Ann Rhoads ; names of chil- 
dren — boys, George H., Frank B., William 
E., John J. and Charley B. ; girls, Sels- 
worth ; Wm. N. Apperson is the son of 
Dr. John Apperson (deceased ) ; was born 
in Culpeper Co., Va., Jan. 8, 1794; 
moved to Coles Co., Paradise Tp., Oct. 
14, 1829 ; died June 5, 1877 ; was father 
of Sidney, Thomas A., D. H., J. R., Wm. 
W., Margaret, Isabella E., Mary M. Apper- 
son. Dr. John Apperson was in the war 
of 1812 ; served as Sergeant Major. 

CHARLES W. BISHOP, physician '. 
P. 0. Etna ; is the son of H. S. and Har- 
riet L. Bishop ; was born in Litchfield, 
Ky., Dec. 15, 1846; moved to Coles Co. 
Jan. 12, 1869, and stayed ten months, and 
then moved to Missouri; from there to 
Wilson Co., Kan., then back to Kentucky, 
and commenced the practice of medicine 
in Litchfield, and practiced two and one- 
half years, then came back to Coles Co., 
111., and commenced the practice of medi- 
cine here, which he still continues ; was a 
graduate of Louisville Medical University 
Oct. 1, 1866. Is the owner of ninety 



650 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



acres of land, valued at $2,-iOO. He was 
married to Emma E. Clark, of Coles 
Co. ; the names of the children by this 
union are a boy, Francis E. Bishop, born 
Nov. 27, 1876. His father is still living 
in Litchfield, Ky.; his mother died Dec. 21, 
1863, in tlie 39th year of her age. 

GEORGE W. BENEFIEL, farmer; 
P. 0. Etna ; is the son of Robert and 
Nancy Beuefiel ; was born in Lawrence 
Co., 111., on the 1st day of July, 1817. 
He was married to Jane Ryker the 23d 
day of January, 1838, and moved to Coles 
Co. Oct. 19, 1855 ; names of children, 
boys — Robert N., James H., John S., 
Peter R., Francis M. ; girls — Sarah A., 
Amy A., Ida M. His wife, Jane Bene- 
fiol, died Sept. 7, 1867. His son John 
S. died in the army March 1, 1863, and 
his daughter Ida died Dec. 4, 1873. 
He served in the late war as Wagonmas- 
ter and Battalion Sergeant in Co. E, 5th 
I. V. C. He was married to his second 
wife, Diantha F. Smith, of Coles Co., 111., 
Feb. 6, 1868. Mr. G. W. Benefiel is one of 
the oldest settlers of Lawrence Co., Illi- 
nois, and the second white child born 
in that county ; his father was one of the 
three first settlers of this State ; was in 
Government service. 

PATRICK BRADLEY, farmer; P. 
O. Mattoon ; is the son of Benjamin and 
Elizabeth Bradley ; was born in Morgan 
Co., Ind., Jan. 17, 1830, and moved to 
Coles Co., 111., Oct. 12, 1866; is the 
owner of 110 acres of land, valued at or 
near $3,000; was Commi.ssionor of High- 
ways three years, also School Trustee a 
number of years. Was married to Elizabeth 
Stroble Feb. 26, 1854; names of chil- 
dren, boys — John C. F., born July 14, 
1856; Zachary, born Aug. 24, 1862; 
James B., born July 1, 18()6; girl — 
Estclla, bom Jan. 5, 1872. His father, 
Benjamin Bradley, was one of the oldest 
settlers of Morgan Co., Ind. ; settled 
Nov. 12, 1829; died Nov. 11, 1865, in 
the 77th year of his age ; his mother, 
Elizabeth Bradley, died March 24, 1862, 
in the 64th year of her age. 

MRS. DIANTHA F. BENEFIEL, 
farmer; P O. Etna; is the daughter of 
James and Elizabeth Shores, of Bradford 
Co., Pa.; moved to Coles Co., Oct. 12, 
1843; was born in Bradford Co., Penn., 
Sheshequin Tp., April 22, 1823; her 



maiden name was Diantha F. Shores ; 
was married to her first husband, William 
N. Smith, March 31, 1844; names of 
children, boys — George W., Miren L., 
Julius E., William W. ; girls — Elizabeth 
H., Arloa N., Irena S. George W. died 
Jan. 24, 1871. Her husband, William W. 
Smith, died April 8, 1861 ; is the owner 
of 320 acres of land, also a large flour-mill 
at Kickapoo, also three oflices and four 
stone houses in Mattoon ; is all valued at 
or near §30,000 ; was married to her second 
husband, Mr. George W. Benefiel, Feb. 6, 
1868 ; has no children by her second 
husband ; her first husband's parents' names 
were Jerrad and Clarinda Smith, of Coles 
Co., Ill; Jerrad died Sept., 26, 1844; 
Clarinda died Sept. 18, 1850. 

JAMES M. BRESEE, farmor; P. 0. 
Etna ; is the son of Dorous and Fanny 
Bresee ; was born in Cumberland Co., 111., 
Jan. 30, 1847; moved to Coles Co. Feb. 
12, 1870 ; is the owner of 120 acres of 
land valued at near five thousand dol- 
lars ; was Road Overseer and School Di- 
rector for ten years or more ; was mar- 
ried to Sarah J. Stowers, of Coles Co., 
April 5, 1868. Names of children — boys: 
Bird E., born Nov. IS, 1875; girls: Min- 
nie v., born Aug. 22, 1869; Lillie E., 
born Oct. 17, 1871 ; Hellen M., born 
March 1, 1873. Was in the late war, 
156th I. V. I., Company A. His father, 
Dorous Bresee, died in California July 15, 
1852. His mother is still living in Mat- 
toon; was born July 5, 1821. 

JOSEPH CAVINS, farmer; P. O. 
Mattoon ; was born in Marion Co., Ohio, 
Jan. 24, 1838; moved to Coles Co., Para- 
dise Tp., 111., in 1840; was married Dec. 
25, 1862; maiden name of wife Melissa B. 
Ferguson. Names of children : Elmer 
W., Jo.seph O., Elzy C, William F., 
Stanley T., Lester B. Owns 80 acres of 
land worth about six thousand dollars. 
Public ofiices held: Justice of the Peace, 
Town Clerk, School Trustee, Supervisor, 
and taught school nine terms in the same 
District ; was also in the late war. His 
father and mother, Joseph and Nancy 
Gavins, were born in Loudoun Co., Va. ; 
moved to Coles Co., Paradise Tp., 111., 
in 1840. His father died about May 
12, 1846 ; his mother Aug. 20, 1852, or 
there about. Names of their children — 
boys : John, James, Randolph, William, 



PARADISE TOWNSHIP. 



651 



Joseph and Thomas ; girls : Martha, Mary, 
and Sarah. 

PHAON H. DORNBLASER,farmer; 
P. 0. Etna ; is the son of Felix and Eliza 
Dornblaser, of Lehigh Co., Penn.; was born 
in the same county and State April 20, 
1838 ; moved with his parents to Coles 
Co., Paradise Tp., 111., April 20, 1855 ; 
is the owner of 170 acres of land, proba- 
ble value, $7,000 ; was School Director six 
years, also Road Overseer one year. Was 
married to Mary E. Jeffries, of Coles Co., 
Dec. 29, 1860 ; was the daughter of James 
and Matilda Jeffries ; names of children, 
boys — French I., born Jan. 28, 1862 ; 
James A., born Feb. 6, 1868 ; Edward 
(deceased), born Nov. 18, 1869, died 
March 20, 1872 ; a;irl— Antoinette, born 
Nov. 28, 1864. His father, Felix Dorn- 
blaser, served his time, three years, in the 
late war ; died on his way home on the 
boat, near St. Louis, August 12,1864; 
5th Cavalry 111. 

JOSEPH F. GOAR, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Etna ; was born in Parke Co., 
Ind. Jan. 8, 1832 ; he is a son of Clemme 
and Elizabeth (Hart) Goar ; in 1836, his 
father came to Coles Co. and entered a 
large amount of Government land, return- 
ing for his family in 1837 ; he built the 
first steam mill in the county, and was a 
prominent citizen of Paradise Tp. until 
1862, when he removed to Jacksonville, 
111., where he now resides ; his mother 
died in this county in 1855. Joseph F. 
was raised on the farm, and on the 2d of 
Oct., 1855, married Miss Mary L. Buckles, 
of Hardin Co., Ky.; they have three chil- 
dren — Robert C, Kate M. and Sarah E.; 
Mr. Goar resides on a farm of 220 acres, 
adjoining the old homestead ; he served 
six years as Constable, and resigned the 
office in August, 1862, to enter the Union 
army as a member of Co. D, 123d I. V. I., 
serving through the war ; among the en- 
gagements in which he participated may 
be mentioned the battles of Milton, Tenn., 
Hoover's Gap, Chickamauga, Farmington, 
Peach-Tree Creek, seige of Atlanta, bat- 
tles of Jonesboro and Sclma. In 1867 be 
was elected Commissioner of Highways, 
and served three years ; in J 874, he was 
chosen Collector of his township, and on 
the 6th of Nov., 1877, was elected County 
Treasurer of Coles Co., which office he 
now holds. 



WILLIAM B. FERGUSON, farmer ; 
P. O. Mattoon ; is the son of William and 
Nancy Ferguson ; was born in Bradford 
Co., Penn., Dec. 8, 1828; moved with his 
parents to Paradise Tp., Coles Co., 111., Oct. 
15, 1839 ; is the owner of 601 acres, val- 
ued at or near §18,000. Was married to 
Fanny M. Hart, of this county and town- 
ship ; she is the daughter of Miles H. and 
Catherine Hart, and was born Dec. 13, 
1837 ; married March 8, 1854 ; there are 
eight children by this union, viz., Ed, 
Thomas, James, George, Ella, Ann and 
Almira; (deceased) Mellissa, Deckard died 
Jan. 28, 1878. His father, William Fer- 
guson, was born in 1805, died in 1877, in 
the 73d year of his age ; his mother was 
born in 1805, died in 1877, in the 73d year of 
her age. He has held the office of Super- 
visor two years. Assessor one year and 
School Trustee three years. 

ADAM B. GREEN, farmer; P. O. 
Mattoon ; is the son of Ira and Mary 
Green, of Washington Co., Tenn.; was 
born in Green Co., Tenn., April 17, 1827 ; 
moved to Paradise Tp., Coles Co., 111., 
Feb. 12, 1867. Was married to Caroline 
E. Peters May 5, 1866; they are the 
parents of six children, viz., James B., 
Dora D. and Laura (deceased), George W., 
Amanda M. and Ida M. Mr. Green is 
the owner of 163 acres of land, valued at 
$6,500. He was in the late war and 
served three years as Sergeant. His 
mother died April 12, 1861, and his father 
Aug. 20, 1848. Children deceased, George 
M., died May 27, 1870, aged 2 years 
10 months and 19 days; girls, Amanda 
M., Oct. 21, 1869, aged \ month and 
15 days; Ida M., June 17, 1871, 
aged 2 months and 17 days; children 
living, girls, Dora, born June 19, 1872 ; 
Laura, born Sept. 16, 1875; boy, bom 
(James B. ) April 27, 1878. Florence A. 
Green is a neice of A. B. Green, and 
makes her home with him ; aged 18 ; born 
Deo. 25, 1S60. 

R. GANNAWAY, farmer; P. O. 
Paradise; is the son of Wm. and Sallie 
Gannany ; was born in Grayson Co., Ky., 
Oct. 23, 1810; moved with his folks to 
Coles Co., 111., March 27,1828; is the 
owner of 131 i acres of land, valued at or 
near $7,000. Was School Director, Road 
Overseer for several years. Was married 
to Elizabeth Gannaway, of Coles Co., 111., 



652 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



Dec. 28, 1830; names of children — boys, 
Robert, Samuel, James W. ; deceased, 
John W. ; ^irls, Roda J., Susan; deceased, 
Louisa. His father, William Gannaway, 
■was in the war of 1812, served as Captain, 
came home and died Sept. 12, 1814. His 
mother is still living in Des Moines, Iowa, 
in the 91st year of her age. 

ADAM W. HART,'" farmer; P. 0. 
Mattoon ; is the son of Silas and Hannah 
Hart, of Davis Co., Ky. ; was born in 
White Co., 111., Jan. 3, 1823 ; moved with 
his parents to Coles Co., Paradise Tp., 
Jan. 3, 1827 ; is the owner of 475 acres, 
valued at S20,000, Was married to 
Nancy D. Gannaway, of Coles Co., Dec. 
28, 1843. Was Supervisor, School Trustee, 
Director, Treasurer and Road Commis- 
sioner. The names of their children are 
Amanda E., Elizabeth J., Hannah M., 
Polly A. and Mercena; deceased, Abraham 
D. and Thomas, who died in infancy ; 
Mary, Louisa and Adda and three infants 
not named. His father, Silas Hart, was 
the oldest settler of this township ; died 
Oct. 12, 1848; his mother, Hannah Hart, 
died in this county and township Sept. 18, 
1863, in the 68th year of her aire. 

AMBROSE Y. HART, Jr., farmer; 
P. 0. Paradise ; is the son of Miles H. 
and Catharine C. Hart ; was born in 
Effingham Co., 111., Nov. 15, 1834; 
moved to Coles Co. Feb. 12, 1836 ; is the 
owner of fifty acres of land, valued at 
$2,000. Is Justice of the Peace, and has 
been for twelve years; also Town Clerk, 
School Treasurer and Commissioner of 
Highways. Was married to Nancy Sex- 
son of Coles Co. Jan. 22, 1857 ; the re- 
sult of this marriage is — David S., John 
M. ; deceased. Miles 0., Willie A., Cath- 
arine C. and Ada. Mr. Hart was in the 
late war, serving as Corporal of Co. D, 123d 
111. Reg. His father. Miles H. Hiirt, 
died in Coles Co. Feb. 17, 1855, in the 
59th year of his age ; his mother, Cath- 
erine C. Hart, died in Coles Co. Nov. 12, 
1872, in the 68th year of her age; they 
were one of the three first families who set- 
tled in this township. 

JAMES L. HART, farmer; P. O. 
Etna ; is the son of Oliver and Zorada 
Hart ; was born in Grayson Co., Ky., June 
18, 1846; moved with his parents to 
Coles Co., 111., Oct. 12, 1848; ia the 
owner of seventy-six acres of land, valued 



at near S3, 500, Was Postmaster at Etna 
for one year. Was married to Elizabeth 
Smith, of Coles Co., Sept. 24, 1866. His 
father, Oliver Hart, was born in Grayson Co., 
Ky.,March31, 1825; died Jan. 25, 1867, 
in the 42d year of his age ; his mother, Zo- 
rada Hart, was born in Hardin Co., Ky., 
Oct. 26, 1823, and is now living in Cle- 
burne, Johnson Co,, Texas ; his wife's 
folks are still living, Mr. and Mrs. George 
N. Benefiel, of this county, township and 
State. His father was the first man who 
built a house south of Etna, and one of 
the first settlers of this township. 
. THOMAS HART, farmer; P. 0. Para- 
dise : is the son of Miles H. and Catharine 
C. Hart, of Coles Co. ; was born in Hardin 
Co., Ky., Sept. 5, 1824; moved to Coles 
Co. with his parents March 12,1 826 ; wa.s 
Assessor, School Trustee, Overseer of the 
Poor and Road Overseer. Was married 
to Vianna Sexson, of Coles Co., March 2, 
1851 ; names of children : Mary E., 
Hallie B. ; deceased — Annie Hart. His 
father. Miles H. Hart, was born in North 
Carolina July 24, 1796 ; was married to 
Catharine C. Yocum, of Kentucky, and 
moved to Wayne Co., 111., and then to 
Coles Co. ; names of children — boys, Thom- 
as, Joseph B., John D., Ambrosa ; girls, 
Eliza A., Martha P., Mary H., Fanny M. ; 
deceased, Joseph B. (_died in Paradise, Coles 
Co., Jan. 26, 1874) ; all living in this 
county with the exception of Mary H., 
and she now lives in HarrLson Co., ISIo. 

BENJAMIN D. HAMBLEN, farmer; 
P. 0. Etna; is the son of Francis and 
Martha B. Hamblen ; was born in Mt. 
Pleasant, Hardin Co., Ky., March 17, 1840 ; 
moved with his parents Dec. 24, 1852, to 
Moultrie Co., and then to Coles Co., March 
13, 1868 ; is the owncTof 120 acres of land, 
valued at or near $5,000 ; was Justice of 
the Peace five years ; also School Director 
and Road Overseer. Was married to Sarah 
M. Newport, the daughter of Benjamin 
and Ellen Newport, of Coles Co., III.; 
names of children — boys, Henry F. (born 
Oct. 3, 1870) ; giris, Nellie M. (born Deo. 
28, 1871 ), Rossa M. (born Dec. 6, 1873) ; 
deceased — ^boys, Claude ( died Aug. 4, 
1876). He was in the late war; served as 
a Duty Sergeant of Co. C, 10th I. V. 
C. ; his father, Francis Hamblen, died 
Oct. 27, 1877 ; his mother died Nov. 12, 
1865. 



PARADISE TOWNSHIP. 



653 



JOHN A. MOSS, farmer ; P. 0. Etna; 
is the son of James H. and Catharine 
Moss . was born in Fleming Co., Ky., July 
25, 1837 ; moved to Coles Co. March 12, 
1 878 ; Ls the owner of forty acres of land, 
valued at $1,000. Was married to his first 
wife, Mary Johnston, April 5, 1866, died 
Feb. 16, 1872 ; names of children deceased 
(boy) Willard S., died March 11, 1872; 
girls deceased, Dulta B., died Aug. 11, 
1870 ; was married to his second wife, 
Phebe Eaton, of Rush Co., Ind., Deo. 21, 
1873; names of children (living), girl, 
Bushna, born April 20, 1875; deceased 
girl infant, died Jan. 17, 1874. His father, 
James H. Moss, was born May 15, 1809, 
died Jan. 8, 1876, in the 67th year of his 
age ; his mother, Catharine Moss, was born 
April 15, 1810, died Sept. 12, 1866, in 
the 56tli year of her age. 

(4E0RGE W. PETERS, farmer; P. O. 
Mattoon ; was born in Green Co., Tenn., 
Sept. 14, 1814 ; is the son of Reuben 
and Elizabeth Peters, of the same county 
and State; is the owner of 163 acres of 
land, valued at $6,500 ; has held no public 
office. Was married to Harriet Rector 
March 22, 1838 ; the names of the chil- 
dren by this union are Alexander S., Reu- 
ben A., George W., Lewis B., John R., 
Caroline E.; deceased, Reuben A., died 
July 17, 1875, aged 34 years 6 months 16 
days ; living, Alexander S., born March 
22, 1839; George W., May 3, 1843; 
Lewis B., Dec. 3, 1846 ; John R., May 3, 
1856; Caroline E., born Jan. 2,1852. 
Reuben and George served three years in 
the late war, in Co. I, 1st Tenn. V. C. A. 
S. is in Oakland, Oregon ; George is in 
Sumner Co., Kan.; the rest are living 
here. 

JOHN A. WILSON, farmer; P. O. 
Etna ; is the son of John A. and Eliza- 
beth Wilson, of Coles Co.; was born 
March 16, 1842 ; is the owner of ninety- 
two acres of land, valued at $2,500. Was 
married to Elizabeth Jones, of Paradise 
Tp., Coles Co., Dec. 3, 1868; the names 
of the children by this union, are Willi.im 
S., George N., John 0., James M. (died 
Oct. 3, 1874), Mary E. and Effie G. Mr. 
Wilson served in the late war in Co. D, 
123d Regiment I. V. I. His father, 
John A. Wilson, died Oct. 12, 1842, in 
St. Louis, and his mother, June 18, 1852; 
Mr. Wilson's father and mother were 



among the first settlers of this town- 
ship. 

BASIL C. WHEAT, Paradise; is the 
son of James 0. and Margaret Wheat ; 
was born in Jackson, Miss., March 

27, 1853; moved to Coles Co., Ill, 
March 12, 1863 ; is the owner of fifty- 
five acres of land, valued at $2,500. 
Was married to Mary D. Alexander, of 
this township, Sept. 25, 1870; the names 
of the children are James 0., born Feb. 

28, 1873 ; Margaret A., deceased : Nora 
J., born Oct. 29, 1874; Cora M., born 
March 29, 1876; Henrietta, born Aug. 
24, 1878. Mr. Wheat's fother, James 0. 
Wheat, is still living, and is practicing 
medicine in this township. Was in the 
late war as surgeon in 21st Kentucky Reg- 
iment. His mother, Margaret Wheat, 
died Sept. 12, 1861, in the 25th year of 
her age. His father was Legislator two 
terms in Kentucky. 

GEORGE W. WILLSON, fiirmer ; P. 
0. Etna ; is the son of John and Elizabeth 
Willson ; was born in Maryland, Aug. 12, 
1826; moved to Coles Co., 111., Sept. 12, 
1836 ; is the owner of 700 acres of land, 
valued at or near $21,000 ; was Justice of 
the Peace and Road Commissioner for a 
number of years. Was married to his 

I first wife, July 12, 1836, Sarah Floyd; 
names of children, boy, Nicholas P. ; girls, 
Lillia A., Rossy J. ; was married to his 

' second wife, Mary S. Myers, widow of 
Henry H. Tucher, April 13, 1868 ; names 
of boys living, Francis A., John A. 
(deceased ), William ( deceased) ; girl, Mag- 
gie E. ; the names of Mr. Henry Tucher's 
children, living — girls, Ada U., Eva B. ; 
children dead — boy, Arthur S. ; girl, Bell 
L. Henry H. Tueher died Aug. 25, 1866 ; 
was born Jan. 27, 1819. 

JAMES H. WILLIAMS, farmer; P.O. 
Etna ; is the son of William and Elizabeth 
Williams, of Culpeper Co., Va. ; was born 
June 12, 1826, in Culpeper Co., Va. ; 
moved with his folks to Coles Co., Paradise 
Tp., 111., on Dec. 20, 1836; is the owner 
of 171 acres of land, valued at $4,50O. 
Is Commissioner of Highways, and has 
been for seven years, also School Director 
for eight years, and is at the, present time. 
Never was married. His father, William 
Williams, was born in Culpeper Co., ^ a., 
Aug. 3, 1789, died Jan. 7, 1855, in the 
67th year of his age; his mother (Eliza- 



654 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



beth Williams) was born in Culpejier Co., 
Va., April 22, 1792, died Nov. 3(1, 1873, 
in the 84th year of her age. He served in 



the late war three years, in Company D. 
123d Volunteer III. 



LA FAYETTE TOWNSHIP. 



G. B. DAVIS, fiirmer, Sec. 23 ; P. 0. 
Loxa; born in Hutton Tp., Coles Co., Dec. 
12, 1836; was brought up a farmer; re- 
ceived his education in a common school 
during the winter months. Mr. D. re- 
sided at home with his parents until he 
was 32 years of age, during which time he 
assisted on the farm and also taught school ; 
he taught school in Hutton Tp. and the dis- 
trict where he now resides 104 months in all. 
He was married to Elizabeth Atkins Aug. 
12, 1869; she was born in Clark Co., this 
State, Sept. 3, 1844; have two children — 
Sarah Annie and Mattie L. Held office 
of Town Clerk one year, and Justice of 
the Peace eight years ; was a soldier in the 
late war ; served in Co. C, 68th I. V. I. ; 
held rank of Second Lieutenant ; went 
from Charleston. He was in the expedi- 
tion that captured John Morgan at the 
time of his famous raid in Ohio. Mr. D. 
is a member of the Baptist Church. Mrs. 
D. belongs to the Church of United Breth- 
ren. His parents, John C. and Eliza- 
beth, were among the pioneer settlers of 
this county. Both are now deceased. 

RICHARD J. HANCOCK, farmer. 
Sec. 13 ; P. 0. Loxa ; own.s 150 acres ; was 
born on the farm where he now resides, 
Oct. 20, 1838; was raised a farmer. Mar- 
ried Mary E. Snitt (daughter of John S. 
Snitt, Esq.) Nov. 30, 1865; she was born 
in Guernsey Co., Ohio, April 3, 1848 ; have 
six children — Nona, Anna, Nellie, John 
C, Carrie and Amanda S. Mr. H.'s 
father was born in North Carolina, March 
13, 1797 ; went to Kentucky with his ]iar- 
ents when an infant. At the age of 10 
years he went to Indiana, and then to this 
county in 1830. His death occurred Feb. 
19, 1871, where the subject of this sketch 
now resides. His first settlement was on 
this farm ; here ho raised a family of ten 
children, only two of whom are now liv- 
ing (the subject of this sketch and Mrs. 
Jones, of Loxa). Mr. H.'s mother ( Keziah ) 
was born in Virginia, April 13, 1801 ; her 



death occurred here April 4, 1876. Mr. 
H. had two brothers in the army during 
the late war — John F., killed at Perry- 
ville, Ky., Oct. 8, 1862, and William T., 
who died at home, Jan. 20, 1872. Both 
were members of the 123d I. V. I. 

WILLIAM R. JONES, farmer, Sec. 
28 ; p. 0. Mattoon ; owns 726 acres ; born 
in Harrison Co., Ky., Aug. 14, 1808 ; 
came to this township in 1834 and made 
a crop ; then went to Kentucky and worked 
four years on his mother's farm, his father 
having died when he (the subject of this 
sketch ) was 23 years old ; he then re- 
turned to this county in company with 
his mother and a sister, and .settled where 
he now resides. He was married to Eliza 
P. Threlkeld (daughter of the late Rev. 
Thomas Threlkeld) Oct. 18, 1853; she 
died Dec. 31, 1856 ; had two children by 
this marriage — Thomas T. (born Oct. 12, 
1854) and William (born Nov. 21, 1856) ; 
both are now living ; his second marriage 
was to Elizabeth Ewing, March 25, 1862 ; 
she was born Dec. 28, 1829 ; by this 
union they have one child — Sarah Louisa, 
born April 7, 1866. Mr. J. was the first 
Supervisor in the township and held that 
office three terms. Mr. J. was formerly a 
Henry Clay Whig, after which he became 
identified with the Republican party, the 
principles of which he is a strong supporter ; 
Mr. J. luis never had but two homes — the 
place where he was born in Kentucky and 
his present home ; he is an extensive farmer 
and raises large ((uantiiies of stock and 
grain. Mr. J. was a warm friend of the 
soldiers during the late war ; a more kind 
and benevolent man to the poor probably 
does not exist in Coles Co. 

WILLIAM LEITCH, far., Sec. 20 ; 
P. 0. Mattoon ; owns 1 1 5 acres ; born in 
Highland (formerly Pendleton) Co., Va., 
Nov. 11, 1816 ; was raised a farmer; has 
also worked at blacksmithing and cooper- 
ing; is also a millwright. Married Eunice 
Raines Nov. 18, 1841 ; she was also born 



LA FAYETTE TOWNSHIP. 



656 



in Highland Co., March 12, 1822; she 
died March 28, 1877 ; had ten children, 
eight of whom are now living — Andrew J., 
Huldah, Mary, Susan, Frank, Ingabo 
Ridley ( Indian name), Irene and Charles ; 
the names of the deceased were John 
Russell and Leva. Mr. L. holds the oflfice 
of Justice of the Peace, which oiEce he 
has held for twenty-seven years ; has held 
every office in the town except Collector ; 
Mr. L. formerly kept a docket ; he now 
does most of the legal business in the 
township. Mr. L. came to this county 
Nov. 11, 1845 ; he made the trip in a two- 
horse wagon ; Mr. L. is noted for his re- 
markable memory and good judgment ; his 
schooling was limited — about eighteen 
months in all. His son Andrew was a 
soldier during the late war, and partici- 
pated in the destruction of Spanish Fort; 
was under Gen. Steele. 

B. B. SHINN, farmer ; P.O. Mattoon; 
owns 142 acres ; was born in Montgomery 
Co., Ohio, March 10,1824; was brought 
up a farmer. He married Margaret Bar- 
calow Jan. 1, 1845 ; she was born in But- 
ler Co., Ohio, July 14, 1824; they have 
had three children ; only one {G. B.) is 
now living ; he was born in Bartholomew 
Co., Ind., Oct. 20, 1851. He married 
Cornelia M. Ricketts Feb. 11, 1872; she 
was born in Charleston March 19, 1853; 
is a daughter of Joshua Ricketts, Esq., of 
Ashmore Tp. ; they have had three chil- 
dren, two of whom are now living — Nellie 
and 0. Morton ; Katie is the name of the 
deceased. The subject of this sketch had ! 
two other children^-James, who died at ' 
the age of 22 years ; a twin to the latter 
died in infancy. .Mr. S. has held the office j 
of Justice of the Peace, Supervisor and 
Town Clerk. He, in company with his 
wife, spent five months at the Centennial 
Exhibition in Philadelphia, in 1876. He 
was appointed by the Governor of this 
State as Assistant Commissioner at that 
exhibition ; he purchased a county right 
for a patent farm-gate, while at that Exhi- 
bition, that is worth the attention of every 
farmer ; it is simple and cheap, and a per- 
son does not have to alight from a load of ; 
hay or a wagon to open it ; it costs no more | 
than a common gate ; the inventor was a i 
Canadian, and, of course, it is constructed 
so that deep snows are no hindrance to its 
being opened or shut at any time without 



the trouble of shoveling snow ; it wUl jiay 
any person to travel a long distance to see 
this gate ; there is no doubt but what they 
will come in general use just as fast as the 
people find out that there is such a simple 
device in existence. 

THOMAS T. THRELKELD, farmer 
and stock-raiser; P. 0. Mattoon; is a na- 
tive of Coles Co.; he was born in La Fay- 
ette Tp. May 22, 1848 ; he is a son of 
Matthew P. Threlkeld, and a grandson of 
Thomas Threlkeld, one of the pioneers of 
this county, who came from Scott Co., Ky., 
in 1830 ; his grandfather was a Baptist 
minister, and a prominent citizen, being, 
in 1840, a member of the State Legis- 
lature ; he entered a large farm in what is 
now La Fayette Tp., and resided there till 
his death, in 1563. Matthew P. Threl- 
keld, his son, and the father of Thomas 
T., is now a resident of the township. 
Thomas T. Threlkeld was married Feb. 9, 
1875, to IMiss Emma Monroe, a daughter 
of the late Dr. John Monroe, of Charles- 
ton ; they have one child — Erie. 

MATTHEW P. THRELKELD, Sec. 
15, farmer; P. 0. Mattoon; born in Har- 
rison Co., Ky., Feb. 7, 1816; was raised 
a farnjer; came with his parents to this 
county in 1830 ; was married Aug. 25, 
1842, to Martha A. Gruelle; she was born 
in Harrison Co., Ky., Oct. 16, 1822; she 
came to this county with her parents in 
1834 ; have had seven children, three of 
whom are now living — Thomas T., Martha 
E. and Susan E. ; the names of the de- 
ceased were Nancy, Mary, Maria and Isaac. 
Martha E. was married Dec. 4, 1874, to 
W. J. Guthrie ; he was born in this town- 
ship April 10, 1846; Mr. T.'s parents, 
Thomas and Patsy, were among the first 
settlers of this township ; his father was 
born Nov. 7, 1793, died April 19, 1865 ; 
his mother was born Oct. 21, 1790, and 
died June 28, 1862 ; their marriage took 
place Dec. 1, 1813. Mr. T.'s father was 
a regular ordained Baptist minister ; he 
was baptized in Mkrch 1812 ; commenced 
preaching in Kentucky in 1819 ; was the 
first preacher in this township in 1830; 
attended four churches and continued in 
the work until his death ; was well and 
favorably known throughout the section 
where he resided. Nearly all the marriage 
ceremonies of the early days of the settle- 
ment of the county were performed by 



656 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



him. Mr. Guthrie resides on the home- 
stead with the subject of this sketch and 
carries on the business of farming ; he has 
held several town offices ; is at present 



School Trustee ; he has had three children, 
two living and one deceased ; the names of 
the living are Edward Thomas and Lelia ; 
the deceased was named Mabel. 



ERR^T^ 



BIOGRAPHIES TOO LATE FOR INSERTION IN PROPER PLACE. 



MATTOON TOWNSHIP. 



ISAAC N. McPHERON, farmer ; P. 

0. Mattoon ; is the son of Alexander and 
Sarah McPheron, of Alabama ; was born 
Nov. 20, 1825, in Alabama; moved to 
Coles Co., Paradise Tp., Jan. 15, 1877. Is 
the owner of 89 acres of land valued at or 
near $3,500 ; held no public office in this 
township. Was married to Matilda Shook 
Feb. 11, 1846 ; names of children — boys, 
Samuel B., John A., Oscar P., Allen, Lo- 
gan ; (deceased, boy, Leuellen) ; girls, 
Carrie A., Alice, Flora T. ; deceased, girls. 
(Roxanna and Henrietta R.); his father 
is dead; died in Mattoon Jan. 26, 1873, 
in the 72d year of his age ; his mother 
died in Montezuma, Ind., May 3, 1847, 
in the 50th year of her age. 

THOMAS J. CURRY, farmer; P. 0. 
Mattoon ; is a son of James and Polly 



Curry, of Coles Co., 111. ; was born in 
Lincoln Co., Tenn., Sept. 7, 1812 ; moved 
to Coles Co. with his folks Dec. 12, 1832. 
Is the owner of 250 acres of land valued at 
or near $10,000 ; was School Trustee and 
Director for a number of terms. Was mar- 
ried to first wife, Martha Langston, March 
29, 1833 ; names of children — boys, James 
E., William L., (Thomas T., deceased i ; 
girls, Mary A., Stacy J., Penia N. Was 
married to his second wife, Debora Mat- 
thews, Dec. 8, 1846 ; names of children — 
John H., Daniel W. ; girls, Martha E., 
Sarah B. Ange ; his father, James Curry, 
died March 6, 1846, in the 55th year of hi.s 
age; his mother died Aug. 5, 1855, in the 
60th year of her age ; both died in this 
county and Paradise Tp. 




TAX-PAYERS OF COLES COUNTY. 



^BBREA^I.^'^riON'S. 



Adv Adventist 

agt agent 

Bapt Baptist 

bkpr. bookkeeper 

bwr brewer 

brkl&yr bricklayer 

carp carpenter 

Cath Catholic 

elk clerk 

Ch Church 

Co Company or County 

com. mer commission merchant 

Cong : Congregational 

Dem Democrat 

dlr dealer 

dgst druggist 

Episcopal Episcopal 

Evang ErangeliBt 

lod Independent 

I. y. I Illinois Volunteer Infantry 

I. V. C Illinois Volunteer Cavalry 

I. V. A Illinois Volunteer Artillery 

far farmer 



fdry foundry 

gro grocer 

lab laborer 

Meth Methodist 

mfr manufacturer 

macb machiDist 

mkr maker 

mech mechanic 

mer merchant 

min minister 

phot photographer 

phys physician 

Presb H PresbyteriaD 

pr printer 

ptr painter 

prop .'. proprietor 

Rep Republican 

Rev Reverend 

sec « section or secretary 

slAmn salesman 

Spir Spiritualist 

supt superintendent 

treas treasurer 



CHARLESTON TOWNSHIP. 

(P. O. CHARLESTON.) 



American Express fompany. 

Adams, Samuel, farmer. 

Alvay.J.M., City Mills. 

Alexander, R., breeder of Poland-China 

swine. 
Aslimore & Mitchell, boots and shoes. 
Arnold, Stephen, farmer. 
Anderson, Henerly, jeweler. 
Adkins, J. M., Sr., "farmer. 
Adkins, W. K., farmer. 
-Vdkins, G. M., farmer. 
.\ dkins, Jf athaniel, farmer. 
Al\vell,,Thomas, laborer. 
.Vsliniore, H. M, stock-dealer. 
Adkins, J. M., .Jr., farmer. 
Adkins, J. W., farmer. 
Asbmore, James M., stock-dealer. 
Bagley, Tillman, horticulturist. 
Barnes, Silas, druggist. 
Buel, George N., laborer. 
Beadle, Richard, laborer. 
Ball, Tennessee, farmer. 
Baiter, M., cigar-maker. 
Bergfeld, Richard, saloon. 
Baugliman. A. 
Bunnell, James W. 
Buckner, J. M., engineer. 
Bates, J. R., farmer. 
Bates, John, farmer. 
Brown, J. O., farmer. 



Buckner, H. P., engineer. 

Bishop, Stephen, farmer. 

Barnard, H. C physician and surgeon. 

Birch, George, farmer. 

Byers, James, farmer. 

Bishop, F. L., dry goods, notions and 

millinery. 
Ball, J. W., fanner. 

Bain. A. X., foundry and machine-shop. 
Brewer, George, attorney at law. 
Berner, Elias, l)oot and shoe mfr. 
Briggs, C. R., portrait and live-stock 

painter. 
Briggs, Andrew, stone-cutter. 
Barton, Patrick, grocer. 
Briggs, Alex., marble and stone works. 
Berry, William T. 
Brown, J. I., Justice of the Peace. 
Beckom, John, carpenter. 
Brooks, Flavins. 

Brazelton, William A., carpenter. 
Blankenbaker, N. J., farmer. 
Bemont, Dennis, laborer. 
Bailes. Arch., farmer. 
Bowlen, Daniel, farmer. 
Brown, J. W., farmer. 
Batty. William C, cooper. 
Briggs, P. G., cooper. 
Bain, .1. A., agent. 
Buck, E. B., publisher Charleston Courier, 



«58 



TAX-PAYERS OF COLES COUNTY: 



Bowhall, v., farmer. 

Burk, Thomas, farmer. 

Burk, James, farmer. 

Brown, Alexander, farmer. 

Brown. M. G.. farmer. 

Brown, ^V. Y., farmer. 

Brown, M. D., farmer. 

Bails, Andrew, farmer. 

Balch, Amelia, widow. 

Burton, G. W., plasterer. 

Blakeman, E., miller. 

Bradley, H. E., grocer. 

Chambers, AV. M., Sr., physician and sur- 
geon. 

Cui'd, Daniel, harness-maker. 

Cramer, Nicholas, blacksmith an<l 
wagon-maker. 

Corbin, Elliott, farmer. 

Cuuuinghani, J. R., County Judge. 

Curd, Edmund, retired. 

Curd, V. K., broker. 

Cox, C. F., horse trader. 

Clark, E. H., undertaker. 

Connolly, J. A., attorney at law. 

Crim, Rufus S., cooper. 

Clark, P.. laborer. 

Clark, J. T., laborer. 

Cossell, James, laborer. 

Compton, A., retired. 

Chambers, G. R., dry goods. 

Cooper, Andrew, farmer. 

Cook, John, farmer. 

Chadwick, H. M., guard at R. R. bridge. 

Case, Phillip B., farmer. 

Case, J. P., farmer. 

Cooper, F., stock-dealer. 

Clary, Chas., Cashier Second Nat'l Bank. 

Chambers, T. G., Pres. First Nat'l Bank. 

Coon, W. S., contractor and builder. 

Curd. J. E., harness, saddlery, etc. 

Clark, ('., retired. 

Clary, Robert B., traveling agent. 

Clarke, E. C, attorney at law. 

Calvert. D. H., druggist. 

Catlin, Gecu'ge Ij., carpenter. 

Chintz, Barbara. 

Cross, Alfred, farm hand. 

Courtoney, George W., carpenter. 

Cox, Giles, farmer. 

Chambers, W. M., Jr., physician. 

Collier. H. A., miller. 

Cassady, Daniel, farmer. 

Cassady, D. M., farmer. 

Corbin, William, farmer. 

Col vey, Jve wis, broom-maker. 

Craig," I. N., retired. 

Chambers, J. A., carpenter. 

Coon, Christopher, carpenter. 

Chapman, X. II., land agent. 

Clark. .1. II., abstract office. 

Cox, Robert N. 

Clark, I. N., farmer. 

Cassady, Jolm, farmer. 

Comer, Morton, farmer. 

Carbcn, W., farmer. 

Channey, James, farmer. 

Corbin, .S. D., farmer. 

Corbin, R., farmer. 



Clark, Thomas, laborer. 

Curd, O. T., clerk. 

Cossell, Lydia, widow. 

Courtney, W., widow. 

Carman, J. C, Mrs., widow. 

Cay lor, J . W., brickmaker. 

Courtney, (r. A., farmer. 

Collom, J. M., farmer. 

Calhoun, E. J., widow. 

Coverstone, L. C., laborer. 

Chilton, James, farmer. 

Dunbar, Lucian S., grocer. 

Dunbar, A. M., teacher. 

Dougherty, John, laborer. 

Debboldt,' .John, laborer. 

Denman, L. M. 

Decker, Emily. 

Davis, Warren, groceries. 

Davis, Jewell, physician. 

Davis, R. J., farmer. 

Davis. C. L., Teller First National Bank. 

Davis, Louisa, Mrs., widow. 

Dickens, Eunice, boarding-house. 

Dowling, K. -T., widow. 

Dunbar. .V. P., attorney at law. 

Davis, O. P., farmer. 

Dowling, Thomas, carpenter, etc. 

De Vault, J. F., blacksmith. 

De Vault, M., blacksmith and plow-shoii 

Dodds, B. W., grocer. 

Doty, James, fanner. 

Doty. James, Jr., farmer. 

Dora, John F., farmer. 

Doty, Levi, farmer. 

Doty, Samuel, farmer. 

Doty, J. W., farmer. 

Doty, J. I., farmer. 

Doty, J. M.. farmer. 

Doty, E. T., farmer. 

Dikob, J. W., jewelei'. 

Dadman, D., clerk. 

Decker. J. K.. retired. 

Dawson, Benjamin, dry goods. 

Dannett, D. E.. miller." 

Davis, Otis, hutdier. 

Eat(m, Stii'ling, carpenter. 

Eastin, H., wood-worker. 

Eastm, Elisha, retired merchant. 

Ennis, J. R.. farmer. 

Evans, J. W.. boots and shoes. 

Evans & Rail, boots and shoes. 

Evinger. D. P.. miller. 

Fowler, II. 

Fisher, W. W., |)ump-shop. 

Tildes, Joseph ,S., carder. 

Fancier, David, engineer. 

Farell, Eli, farmer. 

Frominel, F., woolen manufacturer. 

Funk, John, liroom- winder. 

Freeman, II. H., contractor and builder. 

Ficklin, A. (;. att<irney at law. 

Ferrish. E. R., clerk. 

Finch, James, farmer. 

Field, D. T., farmer. 

Fackler, Lee, carpenter. 

Frost, Lewis, farmer. 

Frosl, II. T., farmer. 

Ferguson, E. H.. farmer. 



CHARLESTON TOWNSHIP. 



659 



"Ferguson, Olark, farmer. 

French, W. H., blacksmith. 

Flemming, Arch., plasterer. 

Plemming, J., farmer. 

Ferguson, "W. T., laborer. 

Fisher, J . M., farmer. 

Frisbie, Fred, farmer. 

Fudge, W. F., farmer. 

Feagan, Andrew, farmer. 

Feagan, J. W., farmer. 

Francis, G. W., Liborer. 

Fisher, A. M., traveling salesman. 

Ficklin, 0. B., attorney at law. 

Fryer, A. J., attorney at law. 

Ferguson, Susan P., widow. 

Ginther, yv. E., hardware, farm machin- 
ery and insurance. 

Groves, A. M., thresher. 

<Jroves, J. W. B., farmer. 

Gilman, K., laborer. 

Goodwin, George, farmer. 

Goodwin. W. A., farmer. 

Gei-ard, M. D., farmer. 

Gerard, B. C, farmer. 

Gerard, O. H., farmer. 

Goodman, George, farmer. 

Gee, James. 

Origsby, G. H., plasterer. 

Graham, Hannah, widow. 

Gobble, John, farmer. 

Goodman, Wilson, Road Supervisor. 

Guiney, C, laborer. 

Goodrich, Samuel "W., sexton. 

Gray, A. E., carpenter. 

Goodman, Thomas, clergyman. 

Glosser, J. H. 

Glassco, S. M., farmer. 

Gliissco, Milford, farmer. 

Glassco, A. E., farmer. 

Glassco, Emmett, farmer. 

Griffith, Joseph Z., clerk. 

Griffin, G. B., book-keeper and salesman. 

Gordon, John, farmer. 

Gilbert, George, farmer. 

Gallagher, Rachel, widow. 

Griffith, J. ("., salesman. 

Gage, G. N., lumber. 

Garver, John, farmer. 

Green. J. F., farmer. 

Green, J. W., farmer. 

Goff, H. L., farmer. 

Griffith, John, farmer. 

Goff, W. H., farmer. 

Gillett, J. I., farmer. 

Goodman, P. F., carpenter. 

Gray, I. P., drayman. 

Oramesly, C, liquor-dealer. 

Ginther, W. E., hardware, farm machin- 
ery and insurance. 

Gage, Joseph, miller. 

Hughes, William, farmer. 

Hayes, Richard, laborer. 

Hersey, AV. E., clothing. 

Hill, J. B., grocer. 

Hinkley, P., hardware, etc. 

Hayden, J. C, plasterer. 

Hill, Lucinda. 

Hill, James B., grpcer. 



Hutchinson, C. W., drug clerk. 

Hill & Co., grocers. 

Hederich, John, tobacco. 

Hutton, Thomas, grocer. 

Hughs, John, cook. 

Henderson. John. 

Harry, W. E., blacksmith. 

Harding, Eveline, widow. 

Hutchinson, Corbin, retired. 

Hackett, R. P., farmer. 

Huntington, S. G., farmer. 

Hackett, R. M., farmer. 

Harris, JD. L., farmer. 

Howlett, E., farmer. 

Hutchinson, R. M., farmer. 

Hall, J. C. dentist. 

Hall, J. W., clothing, etc. 

Haselton, J. B., hotel and livery. 

Harding, William L., clerk. 

Harrah, .J. P., attorney at law. 

Hedriek, T. J. 

Hampton, Mrs., widow. 

Harr, Charles, salesman. 

Hutchinson, P. Mrs., 

Huson, G. E.. laborer. 

Howard, Julia, laundress. 

Hughes, Isaac L., carpenter. 

Huffman, .James, farmer. 

Hughes, Charles, engineer. 

Hughes, William G., laborer. 

Harr, Margarett, boarding-house. 

Harlow, .John, farmer. 

Hall, J. P., farmer. 

Hutchinson, ,1. L., farmer 

Hall, Millard, farmer. 

Holland, J. M., farmer. 

Hardesty, Eliza C, farmer. 

Harvey, John, farmer. 

Handwork, Alliert, farmer. 

Hutton, Letitia, widow. 

Hutchison, M. J. 

Hughes, J. W., clerk and book-keeper. 

Henderson, W. W., farmer. 

Hill, N. W. 

Henderson, J. F. 

Hiser, Jacob, farmer. 

Heater, A., farmer. 

Hill, Benjamin, farmer. 

Howlett, J., laborer. 

Heath, J. K., marble agent. 

Higinbotham, R. S., capenter. 

Hayes, James P., laborer. 

Howlett, Thomas, laborer. 

Huron, Eli, books and stationery. 

Hodgen, A. C, groceries. 

Hendrick, .John. 

Heath, Henry, trader. 

Hall, John, farmer. 

Henderson, A. L., farmer. 

Hawkins, F. A., farmer. 

Hardesty, J. D., molder. 

Huffman, N. B., farmer. 

Hardesty, .1. E., molder. 

Huffman, J. T., farmer. 

Hart. R. W. S., laborer. 

Hunt, G. W., farmer. 

Hildreth. John, farmer. 

Huffman, William, farmer. 



660 



TAX-PAYERS OF COLES COUNTY : 



Hunt, Wiiry A., farmer. 

Hampton, George, laborer. 

Heath, E. M., farmer. 

Heath, C. E.. farmer. 

Holston, M. O., laborer. 

Hill, K. S., farmer. 

Heddins, Oscar, farmer. 

Heddins, Charles, farmer. 

Highland, W. K., County Clerk. 

Hampton, K. H., laborer. 

Hibbard, G. J., insurance agent. 

Huckuba, Albert, fiirmer. 

Hodgen, R. S., abstract office. 

Hodgen, A. E., widow. 

Hedden, B. F., farmer. 

Hampton, W. E., dry goods. 

Jenkins, E. .\., dry goods. 

.Jenkins, W. M., dry goods. 

Jefferies, Bell, millinery. 

■Johnston, I. H., Pres. Second Nat'l Bk. 

Johnston, Felix, Teller Second Nat'l Bk. 

Jones, Harvey, farmer. 

Johnson, E. ('., clothing. 

Johnson, J. A., farmer. 

Johnson, J. J., farmer. 

Jones M. James. 

Johns, S. S., carpenter. 

Jones, S. J., board iug-house. 

JefEeries, Martha, widow. 

Johnson, S. 

.lames, John, laborer. 

Kellogg, George, Mrs., widow. 

Kershaw, M., spinner. 

King, A., laliorer. 

Knock, F., pattern-maker. 

Keist, F. M., painter. 

Kooutz, P., musician. 

Kelly, E. L., farmer. 

Kelly, J. S., farmer. 

Kenedy, S., Mrs., widow. 

King, tlayden, farmer. 

Kaw, Peter, farmer. 

Kaw, I'hili]). farmer. 

Kaw, E. A., farmer. 

Keller, J. E. 

Keist, S. J., cooper. 

Kelley, Thomas, laborer. 

Kibler, W. N., drayman. 

Katie, Hobert, cooper. 

Keleher, M., farmer. 

Kelly, Michael, farmer. 

Landes & Son, merchant tailors. 

JJnder, G. \V., farmer. 

J-ottii, A. B., farmer. 

hinder, Jacob, farmer. 

l.etner, C. (;., laborer. 

Lane, Nelson W. 

J^andcs, Samuel, harness-maker. 

Lumbrick, J., farmer. 

Letner, Ezra M.. farmer. 

J.anman, S. W., farmer. 

l^utz, Frederick, gardener. 

Logan, ('liarles, fanner, 

J,istou,J., harness, .saddlery. etc. 

Lewis, Thomas, laborer. 

l.inder & Stinnel, farmers and traders. 

Lenimons, Jack, farmer. 

McNutt, B. F., house-furnishing goods. 



McNiitt, Mary E., widow. 

McHenry, C. 

Mason, Austin & Co., meat-market. 

Mitchell, I. B., groceries and provisions. 

Mitchell, Alex. C., books and stationery. 

Miles, T. C, veterinary surgeon. 

Moore, Andrew, jeweler and druggist. 

Morton, F. M. 

Messiek, Thomas W., salesman. 

Mischler, P. P., cigar manufacturer. 

Mumtord, L. S , Captain Hose Company. 

McDonald, Charles, miller. 

Myers, Amos, retired. 

McCrory, W. E., Cashier First Nat. Bk. 

Mannifold, B., laborer. 

McConneil & Co., publishers Charleston 
Plaindealer. 

Mason, C meat-market. 

Mitchell, A. ('., books and stationery. 

Mitchell, L. C, farmer. 

McNutt, S. M., farmer. 

Mitchell, J. A., farmer. 

Mille?e, Henry, farmer. 

McHugh, Francis, K. R. section boss. 

McMullen. B., farmer. 

Mullen, Josephine, millinery. 

Mullen, Joanah, nnllinery. 

Monroe, Haiiiiah, widow. 

Monroe, Lewis, (lour-mills. 

Martin, E. J., laljorer. 

Meyer, Solomon, clothing. 

Mitchell, G. M.. Postmaster. 

March, T. .J., Sr., furniture. 

March, T. J., Jr., undertaker. 

Miller, James M., dry goods. 

Minton, W. S., City Mills. 

Minton, Alvey & Co., City Mills. 

Miller, Charles, farmer. 

Moore, John, teamster. 

Malone, Thomas, laborer. 

Moore, <T. W., laborer, 

Metzler, Adam, meat market. 

McNutt, G. T., house-furnishing goods. 

Martin. .lonathan, farmer. 

Meyers, Christ., farmer. 

Myers, John, farmer. 

Myers, .Vbel, farmer. 

McKinzie, David, farmer. 

McKinzie, J. \., farmer. 

Mock, .1. \V., miller. 

Miller, .Vlexander, farmer. 

Mason, C, butcher. 

Mock, G., farmer. 

Millage. James, farmer. 

Millage, George, farmer. 

McDcrmit, M. M., broom-maker. 

Morris, W. I)., blacksmith and wagon- 
maker. 

McCouiialia. S. 1'., hostler. 

Marshall, B. S.. broom-maker. 

Marshall, Ellen L, widow. 

McCormick, .1.. painter. 

McMurlrie, David F., carpenter. 

Moore, Alaska, farmer. 

McKce, Thomas, laborer. 

McKee, Alexander, farmer. 

McConiiis, M. \'., farmer. 

Morgan, John, farmer. 



I 



CHARLESTON TOWNSHIP. 



661 



Merritt, Samuel H., blacksmith. 
Moore, Levi, farmer. 
McLelland, James H., farmer. 
McComas, B. F., carpenter. 
Marymee, M. T., photographer. 
Miles, John A., Assistant Postmaster. 
Myers, William, carpenter. 
Morgan, R. P. 
Morris, D. P., bootmaker. 
Maxwell, Luther, farmer. 
Mullen, James, section boss. 
Mount, Elizabetli, farmer. 
Monfort, W. H., farmer. 
Maxwell, B. K., carpenter. 
Moffitt, Joseph, farmer. 
Mitchell, J. IX, plasterer. 
Mitchell, A. M., boots and shoes. 
Neal, J. F., grocer. 
Norfolk, Sina. 

Neal, J. W., physician and surgeon. 
Nees, Thomas, farmer. 
Nees, J., farmer. 
Nesbit, S. II., book-keeper. 
Nation, Samuel, cooper. 
Newby, Albert S., carpenter. 
Nicliolson, Isaac, gardener. 
Norfolk, Henry E. C, farmer. 
North, F. R., farmer. 
Nixon, M. C, broom-manufacturer. 
Neal, H. A., attomey at law. 
Norris. J. R.. farmer. 
Noble, Luke, farmer. 
Nation. G. F., cooper. 
Oliver, James A., farmer. 
Oliver, J. M., farmer. 
" ver, S. H.. farmer. 
T, Fannie, farmer. 

m, Mary, farmer. ' 

or, James, farmer, 
lalst, B., farmer. 

. Ingel, farmer. 

idy, D. C, painter, 
uolsen, A., farmer. 
0\\ ,'holsen, Aaron, farmer. 
Owlns, Benjamin, fanner. 
Olmsted, Charles, farmer. 
Osborne, M.. widow. 
Prevo. A. H., farmer. 
Piper. J. A., Pastor Presb. Church. 
Plank, T. J., clerk. 
Patterson. Thomas, farmer. 
Peyton, ("harles A., physician. 
Perkins. Alexander, grocer. 
Poxton & Mitchell, books and stationery. 
Post, Ed win, farmer. 
Peyton, Joseph, farmer. 
Peake, W. O., clerk. 
Pinatel, Charles, retired. 
Paulding, J. B.. carriage-maker. 
Parker, J. A., farmer. 
Patton, W. K., pliysician and surgeon. 
Pugh, James, blacksmith. 
Parker, B. .\.. farmer. ^ 

Pearman, E., retired. 
Parker, I. H., farmer. 
Padget, K., widow. 
Ping, S. J., dressmaker. 
Pearcy, J. W., farmer. 



I Plew, J. D., farmer. 

I Poole, Thomas J., c.upenter. 

I Parker, Margaret. 

j Parker, A. A., farmer. 

' Parker, D. M., farmer. 

Perrill, Hugh, plasterer. 
I Quiggins, H. C., teamster. 
: Roberts, S. M., Mrs., widow. 

Rodgers, .1. W., laborer. 

Reynolds, J. W., farmer. 
j Ryan, John, painter. 

Reat, Emeline, widow. 
I Rix, Samuel, farmer. 
1 Rosebrough, J. B., farmer. 
! Reynolds, Joseph B., laborer. 
1 Robinson, E. W ., farmer. 

Ramsey. A., blacksmith. 

Ross, "\V. T., farmer. 

Reprogle, M., farmer. 

Reprogle, R. S., farmer. 

Robinson, W. E., Circuit Clerk. 

Rader, A. L., attorney at law. 

Robbins, M. W., clerk. 

Reynolds, L. C, farmer. 

Ricketts, AV. S.. clerk. 

Reid, Jolm L., farmer. 

Ray, S. E., dry goods. 

Ray & Hampton, dry goods. 

Rogers, S. W., farmer. 

Robinson, J . \\'., farmer 

Record, S. H., drain-tile manirfacturer. 

Rogers, C. C, druggist. 

Robertson, I. M., teamster. 

Rhoads, T. B., farmer. 

Rarodin, .1. K., attorney at law. 

Ritchey, A., boots and shoes. 

Rice, John, blacksmith. 

Ricketts, J. A., marble works. 

Ricketts, Wm., real estate and claim ag't 

Ricketts, J. T., marble-cutter. 

Robertson, W., shoemaker. 

Ramsey, A. J., laborer. 

Reat, J. W., farmer. 

Ray, L. D., farmer. 

Reat, Robert L., farmer. 

Sisk, Elias, horse-dealer. 

Shorts, J., speculator. 

Spears, A. K.. pliysician ami surgeon. 

Streeter, Alexander. 

Sternberg, A., clothing. 

Sternberg, B., clotlnng. 

Stoddert, Richard, hardware and lumber. 

Shriver. M. L., tinner. 

Said, Harvey, miller. 

Shaw, A. F., Police Magistrate. 

Scheytt, Conrad, machinist. 

Spence, Susan, widow. 

Stoner, F., farmer. 

Smith, Nicholas, laborer. 

Sanders, Thomas, farmer. 

Sutton, H. M., laborer. 

Stevens, William, farmer. 

Sells, William, farmer. 

Stevens, James W., farmer. 

Stoddert, R., & Sons, hardware and liun- 
ber. 

Shriver, L. L., tinner. 

Skidmore & Co., harness, saddlery, etc. 



662 



TAX-PAYERS OF COLES COUNTY: 



Skidmore, O., h:iiiiess, saddlery, etc. 

Stites, Kichaid, farmer. 

Skidmore, James, harness-maker. 

Simpson, John AV., broom-maker. 

Smith, J. U., teamster. 

Schnorf, Arthur, farmer. 

Stiles, James, farmer. 

Starkweather, C. C, clerk. 

Stoddert, Henry, hardware and lumber. 

Scheytt, Christian J., saloon. 

Sitleir, H. C, photographer. 

Shriver, A. C., stoves, tinware and house- 
furnishing goods. 

Shriver, Charles W., stoves, tinware and 
house-furnishing goods. 

Sarchett, G. B., physician and surgeon. 

Swartz, Cvrus, bakerv and confectionery. 

Swartz, Scott W. S., laborer. 

Snider, G. W., grocer. 

Shafer, Peter, farmer. 

Scott, James, plasterer. 

Shoots, E. A., widow. 

Said, Harvey, miller. 

SJiasberger, Fred, cooper. 

Snyder, John M., farmer. 

Smith, M. M., dressmaker. 

Shaw, John C, bi-oom-maker. 

Sublet. Thomas C, engineer. 

Scbarer, Dominick, miller. 

Songer. James H., farmer. 

Sutton. A. M., farmer. 

Stites, Jonathan, farmer. 

Stites, William, farmer. 

Silance, James H., farmer. 

Stites, John M., farmer. 

Silverthorn, L. L., physician and surgeon. 

Steigman, George, Charleston Pork-Pack- 
ing Houses. 

Sisk, G. W., cooper. 

Shriver, L. 15., tinner. 

Shackli'ford, James, farmer. 

Sparks. 1^. B.. Mrs., sewing-machine agt. 

Stoner, .John, farmer. 

Stephens, Jnhii, farmer. 

Sowers, John, farmer. 

Stein, J. G., painter. 

Smith, Lewis, farmer. 

Sarchett, S. B., dairyman. 

Shultz, Housten, farmer. 

Snyder, William S., laborer. 

Sidenstricker, IT. II., farmer. 

Stites. David, f.arnicr. 

Sallee. E. M., carpenter. 

Sampson, Isaac, teamster. 

Stoddert, Thomas, dry goods. 

Shoemalver, T. T., farmer. 

Stewart, Kobert, carder. 

Shainiahan, Patrick, railroad laborer. 

Shafer, L., farme?;. 

Stimmel, .V. J ., farmer. 

Stoddert, Thomas, Jr., dry goods. 

Sullivan, Patrick, laborer. 

Theaker, J. .S-, book canvasser. 

Tillotston, T. E., book-keeper. 

Thayer, W. H., farmer. 

Tiiikey, Henry, miller. 

Thompson, C. W., laliorer. 

Tucker, John W., brickmason. 



Traver, W. H., Mrs., broom-manufacturer. 

Theaker, W. C., book canvasser. 

Thomas, L. N., farmer. 

Tomlinson, M., widow. 

Traver, R. A., broom-manufacturer. 

Trott, John, broom-winder. 

Traver & Nixon, broom-manufacturers. 

Trower, Polly A., Mrs. 

Temple, A. G., farmer. 

Tucker, George, Justice of the Peace. 

Thompson, John, farmer. 

Tremble, D. H., Deputy Treasurer. 

Tuttle, Daniel. 

Turman, Jolm, laborer. 

Trowel, Adam, farmer. 

Thrall, 8. M., wool-sorter. 

Tinkle, Marv A., boarding-houae. 

Troutman, G. B., grocer. 

Threlkeld, Thomas, farmer. 

Taggart, J. M., farmer. 

Vantassel, J. W., farmer. 

Veach, .Jesse, farmer. 

Vanderford, Clias., Justice of the Peace. 

Veach, John F., farmer. 

Vail, D. D., carpenter. 

Vail, Isaac, livery-stable. 

Veach, B., farmer. 

Van Sickle, Daniel A., Charleston Hotel. 

Van Meter, Sam'l, physician and surgeon. 

Van Sickle, .J. W., engineer. 

Van Sickle, Aaron, mechanic. 

Van Dyke. Isaac N., attorney at law. 

VanDeren, J. X. 

Veueman, J. C, clerk Charleston Hotel. 

Woodrum, John L., farmer. 

Woodworth, A. T. C farmer. 

Wallace, Joseph, laliorer. 

Watson, M. F., teamster. 

Wright, Samuel, salesman. 

Wright, W. G., groceries and i>rovision8. 

Wesley, Mary, widow. 

Woods, William E., farmer. 

AVilber, II. U., & Son, farmers. 

Wesley, Charles, molder. 

Winters, William, teamster. 

Woodruff, X. Z., grocer. 

Wlielan, M., farmer. 

Wilson, Charles F., Charleston Pork- 
Packing House. 

White, Benjamin, laborer. 

Wigal, George, L., broom-maker. 

Wooils, T. E., carpenter. 

White, G.W., farmer. 

Walker, Eveline, widow. 

AValki'r, Henrv, farmer. 

-Walker, A. F.", farmer. 

Woodrum. .V., farmer. . 

Walker. Mary V. 

Walton, N., salesman. 

AVeiiz, John, drayman. 

Wel)er, Jolm, baker and confectioner. 

Weber Bros., Iiakers and confectioners. 

AVeber, Daniel, baker and confectioner. 

Weber, Frances, widow 

Weiss & Frommcl, woolen manfrs. 

Weiss, Ginther, woolen manufacturer. 

Wright, Hodgen & Co., groceries and 
provisions. 



MATTOON TOWNSHIP. 



663 



Winters, Isaac, merchant tailor. 
Warden, E. B., clerk. 
Woods, Samuel W., farmer. 
Whittemore, AV. A., horse-breeder. 
Wait, Stephen. 
White, John H., farmer. 
Wright, George L.. restaurant. 
White, Owens, farmer. 
Walker, Marv, Mrs., farmer. 
Walter, W. H., blacksmith. 
Walter, George, gardener. 
Warren, JamVs, laborer. 
Whalen, A. Perry, molder. 
Wenz, William, billiards. 
Wilson, Sarah, widow. 
Wilson, J. C. 



Wilson, C. E,, Charleston Pork-Packing 

House. 
Watts, Charles, foreman. 
Wright, James, farmer. 
Weaver, J. W., farmer. 
Willingham, J. H., farmer. 
Waters, L. M., laborer. 
White, William H., farmer. 
Waters, George W., farmer. 
Weaver, Henry, farmer. 
Walker, Edward, horse-trader. 
Wissel, Peter, farmer. 
Wiley, Eli, attorney at law. 
Young, T. J., farmer. 
Young, C. M., sewing machines. 
Young, Robert, sewing machines. 



MATTOON TOWNSHIP. 

(P. 0. MATTOON.) 



Alshular, Charles, tr. agt. 

Anderson, Wm. W., farmer. 

Anderson, L., machinist. 

Adams, Jesse, Constable. 

Anderson, Jacob, col. cook Essex House. 

Alshular. Moses, dry goods merchant. 

Aldrich, I. H., fruit grower. 

Aubert, John L., surveyor. 

Anderson, T. P., laborer. 

Anderson, George, machinist. 

Augur, W. H., Justice of the Peace. 

Abell H. P.. left State. 

Allen, Charles H., tinner. 

Allison, John L., butcher. 

Ayer, H. A. Mrs., fruit garden. 

Adams, Luther. 

Anderson, J. S., Sec. Masonic B. S. 

Allen, S. J., Mrs. 

Alshular, Samuel, milling and photo. 

Ayers, I. J., book and news dealer. 

Ashbrook, Samuel, farmer. 

Abell, M. B., moved to Lamed, Kan. 

Ashworth, Frank A., grain merchant. 

Anderson. Peter. 

Anderson, Charles W., engineer. 

Anderson, Philip, Cooper. 

Auger, S. G. butcher. 

Allison, F. A., attorney. 

Artabum, .lames H., farmer. 

Alexander, John. 

Adrian, M. M., farmer. 

Adrian, John, farmer. 

Ahrens, Amelia. 

Albeck, Jacob, laborer. 

Ashbrook, R. W., fanner. 

Barney, Homer, mechanic. 

Baurn, H., Mrs. 

Bennett, Charles, attorney. 

Brainard, A., carpenter. 

Brawdy, James, laborer. 

Bond, Holland, laborer. 

Booth, T. D., Mrs., fruit farm. 

Black, Fred, farmer. 

Beachum, Bennett, laborer. 



Brand, Jonatlian, laborer. 
Bell, J. N., farmer. 
Bales, T. T.. farmer. 
Bell. Wm. A., machinist. 
Bence, M. P., laborer. 
Bell, Joseph, farmer. 
Bell, Isaac, farmer. 
Brinager, James M., farmer. 
Barker, H. B., farmer. 
Barker, M. B., farmer. 
Barr, Sarah, farmer. 
Bellamy, E. E., farmer. 
Bellamy, C. A ., farmer. 
Barrett, Richard. 
Burnett, Eli, engineer. 
Bombery, Wm., boiler-maker. 
Burnett, Mary J., boarding-house. 
Barnett, P. H., insurance agent. 
Bradshaw, George, coal merchant. 
Bridwell, H. L., farmer. 
Bedford, Mary. 
Brock, T. A., clerk. 
Bryant, Thomas. 
Blakley, Wm. 
Brown, Wm. 
Bell, Wm. A., farmer. 
Berviller, JSTickerson, retired. 
Benefiel, J. B., butcher. 
Bridges, V. R., physician. 
Baker, Michael, laborer. 
Barr, Alexander, barber. 
Barnes, I. W., restaurant. 
Branham, Wm-, retired. 
Buck, David, machinist. 
Blackman, M. D., merchant. 
Brown, C. M., Mrs. 
Bodendick, Wm., machinist. 
Berry, B. N., farmer. 
Bland, Thomas, laborer. 
Baldridge, David, retired. 
Brawdy, George, laborer. 
Brewner, A. J., mason. 
Barwick, W. D., liuckster. 
Bostwick, C. B., editor. 



'^ 



664 



TAX-PAYERS OF COLES COUNTY: 



Boridgman, A. C. 

Bay ley, A. B., merchant. 

Bayle, Josei)h, laborer. 

Barkee, E., farmer. 

Bush, Jacob A., farmer. 

Bautle, Eugene, jeweler. 

Birch, .John F.. shoemaker. 

Ballantine, Jason, machinist. 

Bennett, L. D., engineer. 

Baker, John, engineer. 

Bryan, John, laborer. 

Bliss, J. A., merchant. 

Bowin, J. N. 

Becker, Wm., merchant. 

Beck, A. D., laborer. 

Bray. Solomon, baggage-master. 

Burges, Wm., boots" anil shoes. 

Bell, J. J., Justice. 

Brady, James, laborer. 

Currens, E. T., merchant. 

Curtis, Charles. 

Chapman, Robert, painter. 

Chapen, Leonidas, farmer. 

Cummingham, John, attorney. 

Cox, Jason, merchant tailor. 

(Uark. M. S., liveryman. 

Clark, II. S., attorney. 

Clark, W. T. 

Chettle, Wm. M., telegraph operator. 

Clark, P. B., blacksmith. 

Currens, Michael, laborer. 

Codington, I. V., lumber merchant. 

Collard, S. W., carpenter. 

Collard, (ieorge AV., carpenter. 

Cusliman, A. F., Mrs. 

Crandell, A. B., carpenter. 

Clegg, Thomas, traveling agent. 

Claybaugh, J. W., carpenter. 

Cunningham, Robert, farmer. 

Colson, G. E., merchant. 

Carter, Robert. ' 

Clark, Jason H. 

Colson, Allie F., confectioner. 

('ollins, F. C, clerk. 

Co.\, I. L. 

Cyphers, M., boarding-liouse. 

Cooper, B. S., carpenter. 

<"hristian, F. A., carpenter. 

Calhoun. A. B., farmer. 

Cunningliam. W. C., carpenter. 

Cadington. S. U., lumber merchant. 

Capen, B. S.. carpenter. 

Confer, M. J., Mrs., baker. 

Coats, R. AV'.. dairyman. 

Coats, A. AA'. 

Clark, John. 

Clark, George W.. law yer. 

Claugbly, .loliii. 

Collins, A., clerk. 

(!ranan, Jeremiah, laborer. 

Clark, .Joseph II., banker. 

Campbell, S. A. 

Coon, D. .S., shoemaker. 

Cornelians, Cnjiiams. 

Chuse, J. F., machinist. 

Currens, (ieorge, retired boot and shoe 

merchant. 
Cuningham, J. S., dry goods clerk. 



Coppage, W. R., druggist. 

Clark, E. M., merchant. 

Cassell, J. D., restaurant. 

Coulter, H. M., farmer. 

Church, Ransom. 

Curry, W. P., farmer. 

Curry, T. J, farmer. 

Curry, D. AV., farmer. 

Clark, Wm., farmer. 

Corder, AVm., farmer. 

Carter, John, laborer. 

Curry, J. H., farmer. 

Champion, Wm. H. 

Clark, AVm. H. 

Cole, Wm. 

Corder, AV. R., farmer. 

Carter, George. 

Chandion, A. J., drayman. 

Carlton, A. AV. 

Craig, A. AV. 

Clark, H. S., attorney. 

Cadvv'ell, E. C, insurance agent. 

Cox, Hiram, farmer. 

Davis, Thomas. 

Dora, I. AV., physician. 

Downing, Thomas. 

Drish, J. F., hardware. 

Donnell, John K., wholesale grocer. 

Donnell, Thomas, tombstones. 

Dolan, Thomas. 

Dahling. Henry. 

Dunlap, AV. B., Cashier First Xat'l Bank. 

Dunn, JVIorris, laborer. 

Davis, W. H. 

Duncan, J. R., paper and stationery dealer. 

Diddle, A. J., clerk in railroad office. 

Duncan, Maggie, Mrs. 

Detwiler, AV. H., plasterer. 

Doran, J. W., farmer. 

Dolton, Wm., laborer. 

Danhiser, A., upholsterer. 

Dota, Isaac, laborer. 

Darnblazer, J., auctioneer. 

Dozier, AVm., farmer. 

Dole, S. D., farmer. 

Dole, J. C., farmer. 

Davis, B. 

Dewald, (ieorge. 

Dale. C. M. 

Durnell, A. N. 

Elder, A. C, druggist. 

Ewing, J. M., i)ainter. 

Everharty, Mat, butcher. 

Everlield, Thomas, tinner. 

Ewing, A. C. 

Elliott, Tliomas, shoemaker. 

Evans. John, laborer. 

Eler, .lobn. carpenter. 

Eleiistin, Hugo, laborer. 

Ewing, R. L., groceryman. 

Ewalt, J. H., laborer. 

Earl, Fraidc, laborer. 

Edson, Wilson. 

Edington, James J)., farmer. 

Estes. AV. B. 

Essex House, hotel. 

Filcer. A. J. 

Fry, Charles B., pbysiiiian. 



U 



MATTOON TOWNSHIP. 



665 



Foot, W. D., carpenter. 

Ford, S. J. 

Ferguson, M. J.. Mrs. 

Fickes, George, laborer. 

Fickes, Samuel, laborer. 

Fickes, Jacob, laborer. 

Fairbros, Wm., laborer. 

Figenbaum. Henry, lal)orer. 

Faught, W. H., left city. 

Fuller, J. D. 

Fitzgerald, Joshua, laborer. 

Ferel, Mary. 

Flynn, Thomas, saloon-keeper. 

Fallin, 1). A., groceryman. 

Fallin, J. S., groceryman. 

Futures, Charles, groceryman. 

Fooba, Tim. 

Fudge, L., mechanic. 

Fullin, Wm., real estate. 

Frakes, James, laborer. 

Fulcher, Wm. J., City Treasurer. 

Farris, B., laborer. 

Fallin, Henry, farmer. 

Fulton, D. W., farmer. 

Ferree, Reuben J., farmer. 

Frost, Peter, farmer. 

Fox, Samuel. 

Frakes, Wm. 

Francis, Benjamin. 

Fugate, C. 

Fugate, Stephen. 

Flemming, W. C. 

Fisher, J. M., insurance agent. 

Gavin, Richard. 

Gordan, A. H., painter. 

Gibbs, I. N ., horse-dealer. 

Glunt, John. 

Gucker. F. 

Geary, S. D., mechanic. 

Garthwait, Frank, dry goods. 

Goodyear, John S. 

Guyo'tt, Fred. 

Guyott, Wm. 

Goins, W. 

GiflBn, Morgan, saloon-keeper. 

Gogin, A. D., mail agent. 

Goldgart, George, retired merchant. 

Guilfoil, John, engineer I. & St. L. R. R. 

Garrett, Zachari;di. 

Gibler, L., leader in brass band. 

Goodpaston, John, feed store. 

Gray, Robert, Prosecuting Attorney. 

Govvgin, O. W., Justice ot the Peace. 

Gray, George. 

Gawger, John, conductor 1. & St. L. R.R. 

Gaw, John. 

Gaw, Peter. 

Goold, Joseph. 

Gidelle, Elizabeth. 

(iardner, S. D., farmer. 

Griffith, John, carpenter I. & St. L. shops. 

<Tuilduff, James, engineer I. &St. L. R. R. 

Hughs, .James F., attorney. 

Hinkle, B. C, lumber-dealer. 

Hart, Thomas, farmer. 

Howard, Lueian, farmer. 

Hays, George W., laborer. 

Hermon, John, miller. 



Hermon, J. T., traveling patent-right 

man. 
Herber, Israel, carpenter. 
Hunt, John, butcher, 
noddy. Nelson, groceryman. 
Haskill, C. A., laborer. 
Holmes, George, carpenter. 
Hogue, John B., tile manufacturer. 
Howell, S. W., carpenter. 
Heath, N. P., minister M. E. Church. 
Hardy, Charles, engineer disp. 
Horn, Joseph, tailor. 
Harris, J. B., collector. 
Hodeger, George. 
Huston, J. B., laborer. 
Henly, L. C, attorney. 
Horn, George, tailor. 
Hunt, B. F., cooj)er. 
Hennessee, Pat., groceryman. 
Hodly, O. E., groceryman. 
Handford, (5. F., boot and shoe dealer. 
Hasbrook, A. V., hardware dealer. 
Hanna, John W., books and stationery. 
Hennessee, .John, carpenter. 
Haydeu, Mathew, laborer!. & St. L.R. R. 
Huffman, E., laborer. 
Handsucker, Joseph, laborer in railroad 

shops. 
Horn, Wm., foreman machine shop I. & 

St. L. R. R. 
Henry, A. M., Dr., physician. 
Hawes, J. S., saloon-keeper. 
Hoff, Joseph, shoemaker. 
Higdon, J. ,T., shoemaker. 
Heap, Harry, works in R. R. shops. 
Hightsman, Wm., works in R. R. shops. 
Hall, JefE M., carpenter. 
Herman, Theodore, expressman. 
Herman, John, laborer. 
Hodgson, E., ice dealer. 
Harison, Bela, farmer. 
Heath, John, farmer. 
Harding, Harriet, Mrs. 
Handraham, Michael, Jr., laborer. 
Henly, James, laborer. 
Hamilton, Wm., laborer. 
Hortenstine, Jacob, laljorer. 
Holland, Arabiose, laborer. 
Hyner, C. C., farmer. 
Hartenstine. John, farmer. 
Hunt, Philip O., farmer. 
Hay.s, B. F., drayman. 
Herkimer, J. D.i farmer. 
Hinkle, W. S., wall-paper dealer 
Isaac, Samuel, clothier. 
Isgrigg, M., laborer. 
Igo, B., watchman D. M.. & S. R. R. 
James, Ira, President gas comjiany. 
.Jones, Riley, painter. 
Jennings, J., grain-dealer. 
.Jennings, E., grain-dealer. 
Joseph, H., jeweler. 
Jout, Theo., saddle and harness maker. 
Jones, W. H., laborer. 
.Johnson. .John T.. cooper. 
Jones, Charles II.. farmer. 
Jones, Henry, Col., barlier. 
.Jackson, Ira B., insurance agent. 



666 



TAX-PAYERS OF COLES COUNTY : 



Jenkins, David S., engineer. 

Jones, Rufus, laborer. 

Jolinson, J. A., laborer. 

Jameson, James, carpenter. 

Jeferson, Jacob, farmer. 

Jordan, James, laborer. 

Jones, Joel, laborer. 

Jeifries, Geo. K., laborer. 

Jordan, G. ^V., mail agent, M. & D. R. R. 

James, D. 1)., merchant mitter. 

Kinkead, Eley, saloon-keeper. 

Kelly, John M., clerk J. R. Duncan. 

King, John V., laborer. 

Kennedy, Patrick, freightman I. C. R. R. 

Klilore, Philip. 

Killer, E. C, clerk J. F. Drish. 

Khlore, Henry. 

Kerns, James, laborer. 

Kinser, J. B., laborer. 

Kilner, George, physician. 

Kilner, G. T., druggist. 

Kemp, William, saddler. 

Kelly, Jas. M., shoemaker. 

Kinzel, Fred, saloon-keeper. 

Kely, H. F., carpenter. 

Killer, A. D., Citv Marshal. 

Krebs, David, laborer, I. & St. L. R. R. 

Kuhule, G.. blacksmith. 

Kilner, J. A., clerk in drug store. 

Ketz & Frolick, clothiers. 

Kern, Frank, dry goods. 

Kinner, Oliver. 

Killer, W. A., farmer. 

Kurtz, J. F. 

Krebs, Rubin, gunsmith. 

Killerman, John, saloon-keeper. 

Krozen, George, briekniason. 

Kirk, H. R., tailor. 

Kirk, John L., laborer. 

Kupple, John. 

Kuhns & Bros., clothiers. 

I^awson, J. F., traveling salesman. 

l^euth, Fred, cigar-maker. 

]-ent, J. P., farmer. 

Lafever, F. K., laborer, I. &. St. L. R. R. 

Linn, P. B., groceryman. 

Long, W. W., farmer. 

J^yncli, Thomas, laborer, I. & 8t. L. R. R. 

Liiidig, Charles, tailor. 

Lynch, Pat, laliorer, 1. &. St. L. R. R. 

Lynn, G. W., insurance agent. 

Lawlcr, F. M., machinist. 

Larkins, .lohn, laborer, L & St. L. shops. 

La Clair, Paul, carpenter. 

Lytic, F. M., clerk, with Ira James. 

Linder, Wni., groceryman. 

Linder, John \\'., farmer. 

Linder, Elisha, farmer. 

Ijcach, Jas. W., farniei'. 

La Grand, Elizabeth. 

Lippert, W. K., farmer. 

l>ove, 'J'lionias. 

La Grand, Philiii, farmer. 

l>uby, S. 7... farmer. 

Jjin<ler, Nathan, farmer. 

Linder, John IL, farmer. 

Liirie, T. P. C, tanner. 

Lewis, W. 11.. agent. 1. &.St. L. R. R. 



Lenox, Wm., Mattoon Foundry. 

Mayer, W. H., loan agent. 

Mayer & Rose, attorneys. 

Malona, M., laborer. 

Murry, James F., laborer. 

Manning, Charles, stock-dealer. 

Mason, W. T., laborer. 

jNIalinder, John, laborer, I. & St. L. R. R. 

Mitchell, James S., laborer. 

Miller, Wm. F., carpenter. 

Montage, G. A., clerk with S. Isaac 

Mitchell, J. M., saddler. 

Montgomery, M., Mrs. 

Mayer, John, groceryman. 

Miller, Richard, laborer. — 

Mason. Peter, laborer. 

Morris, W. E., Mrs. 

Morgan, J. J., laborer. 

Masonhall, J. P., laborer. 

Morse, L. F. physician. 

Mattock, .J. H., clerk, with Kahns. 

Minter, Richard, marble agent. 

Morgan, Geo. H., farmer. 

Moran & Phillips, carriage-makers. 

Munson, S., ilrs. 

Slurry, T. 8., cutter in tailor-shop. 

Miller, Geo. F., laborer. 

Michaels, Charles, laborer. 

Moneypenny, S., miller. 

Moore, W. P., laborer. 

Miller, Osbert, plasterer. 

Mayer & Becker, grocerymen. 

Moore, Calvin, druggist. 

Mulford, J. A., hide and leather dealer. 

Madison, Simon, gardener. 

Meyer, Lawrence, gardener. 

Montgomery, Tyra, florist. 

Mollen, Patrick! laborer. 

Michaels, Jas. W., laborer. 

Mitchell, T. S., laborer. 

Money, E., farmer. 

Meyeis, I. C. 

Meyers. Wm. 

Matto.x, Benjamin D. 

Mahan, A., laoorer. 

Malsbery, Samuel, laborer. 

Mapels, Harvey, laborer. 

Miller, Josc))h, laborer. . 

Michael, J. II.. farmer. 

Miller. Luther, Street Supervisor. - 

Mcsser, Daniel, pro)). Essex House 

McDuller, H. F., engineer. 

McFarland, John, carpenter. 

McNair, J. L. Presbyterian Minister 

McPherren, S. M. 

McKee, (rcorge, poultry dealer. 

McShawe. Edw., laborer, machine-rthop. 

McDulfer, Wm., laborer. 

Mc.Vcran, Jas., clerk. 

McCormick, Thomas, gro<'eryman. 

McShane, V.. boots and shoes. 

McKee, AVni., City Marshal. 

McClelland, J. ().," farmer. 

Mc.Vcran, J. W., farmer. 

McClanc, .John, laborer. 

McWhinnev, Leroy, laborer. 

McFall. D.M., Dr., phvsician. 

McShane, Jason, mach.. I. & St. L. R. R- 



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MATTOON TOWNSHIP. 



6(51 



McMahoii, Richard, Roadmaster, I. & St. 

L. R. R. 
Mclntire, D. S., attorney. 
Mclntire, D. T., attorney, 
McFaddin, C B. 
McCurry, Isaac, bolt-cutter, I. & St. L. 

R. R. " 
McClure, E. B., Supt. I. &. St. L. R. R. 
McFadden, David, carpenter. 
McQuown, Harvey, miller. 
McDonald, D., foreman I. & St. L. shops. 
McPherson, G. J. 
^'cFadden, Wm. H. 
McPherren, Thomas, farmer. 
McFallon, John, farmer. 
McPherrin, I. N., farmer. 
McQuown, Dick, farmer. 
McQuown, W. A., farmer. 
McQuown, R. W., farmer. 
McElroy, John, farmer. 
Moore, J. W., lumber-dealer. 
Montague, T. W.,^tock-dealer. 
Norwell, Newton, clerk, with Linder. 
Naylor, Wm., molder (foundry). 
NeWcomb, Oliver, carpenter. 
Niemeyer, I. A., laborer,!. & St. L. shops. 
Niemeyer, C. A., painter, I. & St. L. shops. 
Noys, Frank, law student. 
Noyes, E., Sr., farmer. 
Nicoll,R. L. 

Needham, M. R., drayman. 
Noble, Charles, painter. 
Koys, Eben, Jr., farmer. 
Newport, Benjamin S., farmer. 
Noys, Heniy, farmer. 
Nash, George, farmer. 
Noys, Rufus, farmer. 
Neely, L. A., train-dispatcher. 
Norvell, F. A., Constable. 
Oblinger, D. H., druggist. 
Owings, Samuel. 
Osborn, R. H. 
O'Neal, Mike, laborer. 
O'Conner, Mary Ann. 
O'Bryan, Daviil, laborer. 
Orr, John C, cooper. 
Osbern, Amelia. 
O'Neal, Daniel, blacksmith, 
Owens, John, plasterer. 
Ozee, Joseph S., plasterer. 
Ozee, J. C., Dr., physician. 
Orendorf, M. A., farmer. 
Orendorf, Israel, farmer. 
Orendorf, Lewis, farmer. 
O'Broon, O. F., farmer. 
Phelan, John, agent Central R. R. 
Patterson, Mary M. 
Pritchett, A., laborer. 
Patrick, T. C, farmer. 
Patterson, N. 
Perry, David S., engineer. 
Price, Wm. P., carpenter. 
Pile, W. H. K., real estate. 
Peck, C. G., foreman Gazette oflBce. 
Paugh, W. H., Dr., physician. s 

Pearson, Jas. 
Patterson, Sarah. 
Peck, E. F., conductor I. & St. L. R. R. 



Pence, N.. City Marshal. 
Parish, W. H., clerk. 
Perry, Austin, barber. 
Perry, Joseph. 

Powers, Patrick, blacksmith. 
Phillips. W. A., school-teacher. 
Peebles, J. J., carpenter, I. & St. L. shops. 
Phillips, Calvin, farmer. 
Phelan, Robert, ticket agent Central R. R. 
Parasal, Lewis. 
Payne, W. R., tailor. 
Patterson, W. P.. farmer. 
Powell, C. A., sexton Dodge Grove Cem- 
etery. 
Pickett, A., Dr., physician. 
Patrick, John T. 
Powell, C. H., farmer. 
Powell, J. A., farmer. 
Puleston, W. H., farmer. 
Patterson, E. (i., farmer. 
Parks, John, farmer. 
Powell, J. W., farmer. 
Pape, John, farmer. 
Quick, David, carpenter. 
Quintt, Calvin, farmer. 
Rose, E. P., attorney. 
Reynolds, John, farmer. 
Richison, J. A., mail agent. 
Raw, John, laborer. 
Roach, George, farmer. 
Rinkin, John, painter. 
Randolph, A. F., brickmason. 
Rice, V- T. S., bookbinder. 
Roach, Robert, laborer. 
Regett, Charles, laborer. 
Roberts, L. G., dentist. 
Roberts, R. B., dentist. 
Roose, C. A., poultry-dealer. 
Russell, George, brasslitter. 
Rajjp, John, Mrs. 
Rhuten, Thomas, farmer. 
Reaf,M., Mrs. 
Roberts, G., laborer. 
Redding, Robert, farmer. 
Rose, T. B. 

Richmond, J., City Mill proprietor. 
Kobb, Charles, laborer. 
Raw, George, laborer. 
Run, I., laborer. 
Raw, Thomas, laborer. 
Rudy, J. O., real estate and life ijisu ranee- 
Riddle, II. S., gardener. 
Riddle, James M., gardener. 
Ringwalt, Jacob, carpenter. 
Rathenputer, L. 
Revew, A. G. 

Ruth, Joseph, engineer I. & St. L. R. K 
Rutherford, Ellen, widow of Wm. R. 
Rapp, Tobias, watchman I. &,St.L. R. li. 
Ritter, Henry, cigar manufacturer. 
Rice, U. T. S., bookbinder. 
Rodgers, J. C, farmer. 
Rightsell, C. K., farmer. 
Rightsell, J. R., farmer. 
Rightsell, Hepsibah, farmer. 
Rutherford, R. B., farmer. 
Rand, Parker, farmer. 
Rand, James W., farmer. 



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